Anant Singh, a former gangster who transitioned into politics and served as a five-time MLA from Mokama in Bihar, commonly referred to as ‘Chhote Sarkar’, was granted a 15-day parole from Beur central jail in Patna on Sunday, officials said.
Following a significant gathering of Singh’s supporters outside the Beur jail upon learning of his release, the police enhanced security measures to prevent any potential disturbances. Anant’s convoy, consisting of over 100 SUVs, was observed between Patna and Mokama.
The Mokama assembly constituency, which falls under the Munger Lok Sabha constituency, is set to hold its election on May 13.
Singh, who is currently serving a 10-year rigorous imprisonment term in two separate Arms Act cases, faces conviction.
In a dramatic turn of events on August 23, 2019, Singh surrendered before Metropolitan Magistrate Harun Pratap in the Saket court in Delhi after the Patna police filed a case against him under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019.
Acting on specific information, the police raided Singh’s native village, Ladma, under the Barh police station in rural Patna on August 16, 2019, where they seized one AK-47 assault rifle, two hand grenades, and live cartridges.
Police mentioned that the AK-47 rifle was camouflaged with carbon to evade detection by metal detectors.
Beur jail superintendent Jitendra Kumar stated that Singh was released on parole sanctioned by the state home department to resolve issues regarding his ancestral land. However, there are rumors circulating in political circles linking his release prior to the Munger parliamentary election to potentially benefit the Janata Dal (United) candidate Rajiv Ranjan, also known as Lalan Singh.
“The timing will certainly raise eyebrows as the land resolution could have been done after a month. But this is the way Nitish Kumar (Bihar chief minister) functions and nothing will change the course of the election this time due to the people’s growing support for Tejashwi Prasad Yadav [Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly], who has been single-handedly taking on the might of the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party],” said RJD leader Shakti Singh Yadav.
It’s noteworthy that the RJD has nominated Anita Devi, wife of notorious gangster Ashok Mahto, for the Munger Lok Sabha seat. Anant’s wife, Nilam Devi, had previously won the Mokama Assembly seat on an RJD ticket. However, she pledged support to Nitish Kumar during the floor test, along with Chetan Anand, son of don-turned-politician Anand Mohan, who represents the Congress. Mohan’s wife is also contesting from Sheohar on the JD-U ticket.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Devi contested against Lalan Singh from Munger on a Congress ticket but was unsuccessful.
Former MLA Anant has cultivated a Robin Hood-like image in his constituency, known for aiding patients from his area in securing hospital admissions in Patna and Delhi.
Anant Singh carries a significant criminal record, facing 38 criminal charges, including seven counts of murder, eleven attempted murders, and four kidnapping cases.
Anant Singh is regarded as one of the most contentious politicians in the state over the past four decades. He has secured victory five times from the Mokama constituency—thrice on a JD(U) ticket, once as an independent candidate, and the fifth time on an RJD ticket in 2020.
Past records
On July 21, 2022, the MP-MLA court in Patna sentenced former Anant to 10 years’ imprisonment for the recovery of a bullet-proof jacket and six magazines from his official flat in 2015.
“An AK 47, 26 live bullets, magazines and explosives – these are a few things that are generally recovered by security forces or from terrorists or Maoists. The arms and ammunition were recovered from a public servant’s house, which is very surprising,” said an official of the state home department.
Police raided his residence in connection with a kidnapping and murder case under the Barh police station limits. In the incident, four youths were allegedly abducted on June 17, 2015, and the following day, one of their bodies was discovered in Anant’s ancestral village.
On July 18, 2023, the Beur jail administration filed a first information report (FIR) against 31 individuals, including Anant, for an attempt to execute a jailbreak, attack prison staff, snatch keys, and facilitate prisoner escape.
The administration alleged in the FIR that the former MLA exerted pressure on jail staff and instigated his supporters to aid in the escape of prisoners, resulting in assaults on prison staff. They also vandalized CCTV cameras within the jail premises to evade detection. In total, 11 prison staff sustained injuries during the incident.