Patna, Sept. 6: A few prisoners in Bihar, it seems, want to shed their bahubali tag and rename themselves as educated and knowledgeable.

Pappu Yadav, the former RJD MP from Purnea, has been enrolled to distance education course of Nalanda Open University (NOU) in Patna.

Yadav, who is serving a life-term in the high-security prison at Beur Central Jail near Patna in connection with the murder of the CPM legislator, Ajit Sarkar, wishes to pursue higher education. He has been admitted to the postgraduate department of sociology of NOU.

NOU registrar S.P. Sinha told The Telegraph that Yadav’s application form was received by the university from the Beur Central 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 to distance education courses. “The admission is still going on,” he informed.

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

Yadav is also penning his autobiography. Sources said Yadav, who is facing charges of murder, kidnapping and extortion, had earlier done graduation in human rights and disaster management when he was lodged in Tihar Jail.

Pappu had passed the Intermediate examination when he represented Purnea and Madhepura seats 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 Yadav said he wanted to get rid of the bahubali tag that has stuck to his image over the years by writing this book. Patna police had found him writing his autobiography when they had raided his cell in the jail on the eve of Purnea Assembly bypolls earlier this year.

Yadav had raked up a controversy for his lavish lifestyle in the Beur jail. 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.

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

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

The varsity 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 life-term, is facing charges of murder and kidnapping.