MLAs go to file papers, but end up under arrest

PATNA: Acting on the recent directive of the Patna High Court, the Bihar police arrested RJD and JD(U) MLAs, evading the law in various cases, when they turned up to file their nominations for the Bihar assembly polls.
Ruling RJD MLA from Bihpur Shailesh Kumar alias Bullo Mandal, JD(U) MLA from Piro Sunil Pandey, a LJP candidate and an Independent, who were at large despite non-bailable arrest warrant and property attachment orders pending against them, were arrested on Monday.They were allowed to submit their papers in custody.
The Naughachia police arrested Mandal when he turned up for filing nominations for the Bihpur assembly seat in Bhagalpur, the police said. A Bhagalpur court had issued property attachment orders against him for not appearing before it despite summons in a case relating to assault of policemen at Parbatta in March 2002.
A few days back, the MLA had got bail from Kotwali police station.
JD(U) MLA from Piro, Sunil Pandey, who had been evading arrest in a criminal case in Balia district of Uttar Pradesh in 1996, was taken into custody while filing nomination before sub-divisional magistrate S Khan.
Former RJD MLA from Fatehpur (SC) seat in Gaya district Shyamdeo Paswan, who is contesting on LJP ticket, was held when he turned up to file nomination. Paswan was wanted by the police in connection with a rail blockade agitation in 2000. An Independent candidate from Hisua in Nawada district, Ashok Yadav, was held in connection with the assault on government officials.