Pappu Yadav

Patna, Sept. 6: If Munnabhai can be an MBBS, Pappu, the “bhai” from Purnea, can at least be an MA.

Rajesh Ranjan, the dreaded don and former RJD MP who is better known as Pappu Yadav, has enrolled himself for a distance education course at Nalanda Open University (NOU) in Patna.

The man who sent shivers through society in Purnea has been admitted to the postgraduate department of sociology.

Pappu, 44, who is serving a life term in the high-security Beur Central Jail in connection with the murder of CPM legislator Ajit Sarkar, wishes to pursue higher education in an effort to shed his bahubali (don) tag. Pappu is also utilising his prison time to write his autobiography.

NOU registrar S.P. Sinha told The Telegraph that Pappu’s application form was received by the university from Beur jail recently. “He wants to do postgraduation in sociology from the university,” he said.

The registrar added that till date, 35 inmates of the prison have filled up forms to get enrolled in distance education courses. “The admission is still going on,” he said.

“We have set up a separate free-of-cost learning centre for the inmates,” Sinha said, adding that last year 67 prisoners were enrolled in distance education courses.

Sources said Pappu, who is facing charges of murder, kidnapping and extortion, had earlier done his graduation in human rights and disaster management while being lodged at Tihar Jail in New Delhi.

Pappu had passed the Intermediate examination when he represented Purnea and Madhepura in the Lok Sabha four times. But he later chose to continue his studies during his prolonged stint in jail. He even did his graduation from behind the bars.

A source close to Pappu said he wanted to get rid of the bahubali tag that has stuck over the years by penning his memoirs and gaining knowledge.

Patna police had found him writing his autobiography when they had raided his cell in the jail on the eve of the Purnea Assembly bypolls earlier this year.

Pappu had stirred a controversy for his lavish lifestyle at Beur. He used to hold darbar in the office of the jail superintendent. He was later shifted to Tihar on the directive of Patna High Court, which took strong exception to additional facilities provided to the “high-profile” prisoner.

“Pappu is lodged in Beur jail ever since the Supreme Court cancelled his bail petition last year,” an official said.

Earlier, two don-turned-politicians of the state had shown keen interest in pursuing higher studies. While Sunil Pandey, a JD(U) legislator, was awarded a PhD in Ahimsa in Jainism from Veer Keur Singh University, Ara, Mohammed Shahabuddin did his postgraduation in political science from Babasaheb Bhim Rao Bihar University, Muzaffarpur.

The university officials’ role had come under scanner when Shahabuddin appeared for the LLB examination even after an arrest warrant was pending against him. Shahabuddin, who has been awarded a life term, is facing charges of murder and kidnapping.