Patna, Sept. 2: Controversial MLA Rajan Tiwari, who recently joined the Lok Janshakti Party, was not shifted to Beur Jail from Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) today despite the instructions of the inspector-general (prisons).

The Patna district magistrate has directed that a medical board would examine the legislator, now admitted in the PMCH’s prisoners’ ward.

Tiwari faces a large number of criminal cases, including the murder of CPM leader Ajit Sarkar and former minister Brij Bihari.

During an inspection on Tuesday, IG (prisons) D.K. Singh had found Tiwari missing from the prisoners’ ward. When he inquired, Singh was told that Tiwari had gone to Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) on the outskirts of the city for a check-up.

The senior police official then rushed to IGIMS but the MLA was not found there as well.

Tiwari later claimed that he had gone to the hospital but had to return because the doctor concerned was not there.

The IG (prisons) has also asked the Beur Jail superintendent to immediately clarify on what health grounds was Tiwari moved to PMCH. The legislator is not known to suffer from any major ailment.

The courts had earlier taken the state government to task for “unnecessarily” shifting influential politicians lodged in jail to PMCH.

The district magistrate has written to the health department to inquire why Tiwari was absent from the prisoners’ ward yesterday and whether he had communicated the same to the authorities.

An inquiry has also been ordered to ascertain whether the constable assigned to guard the legislator at PMCH has committed any lapse of duty.