Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, his brother Tej Pratap Yadav and four others were on Sunday booked over the killing of Dalit leader and former RJD leader Shakti Mallik in Purnia district of northeast Bihar.
Former RJD State secretary of SC/ST cell Shakti Mallik was gunned down on October 4 at his residence in Purnia town. A country-made pistol and an empty cartridge were seized from his room.
“The deceased’s wife Khushboo Devi has lodged an FIR against Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and four others at the local Khajanchi Haat police station for hatching a conspiracy to kill her husband”, Purnia Superintendent of Police Vishal Sharma said.
The others named in the FIR are Anil Kumar Sadhu, Kalo Paswan, his wife Sunita Devi and Manoj Paswan.
Anil Kumar Sadhu is son-in-law of Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and president of RJD’s State SC cell. He was earlier with the Lok Janshakti Party.
Mallik, 38, was to contest the upcoming Assembly election from Raniganj (SC) seat in neighbouring Araria district.
Earlier, in a video that went viral on social media, the deceased had made serious allegations against Mr. Tejashwi Yadav and Mr. Sadhu for demanding ₹50 lakh for ticket to contest the election on RJD ticket.
The deceased had joined the RJD in 2019 and was made State SC/ST cell secretary of the party but after he allegedly was denied ticket and made serious allegations against party leaders, he recently was expelled from RJD.
Ms. Devi accused in the FIR that “since her husband was to contest the election as an Independent candidate, he was eliminated at the behest of RJD leaders including Tejashwi Yadav”.
“The probe in the case is under way to ascertain the involvement of the accused persons…the deceased’s wife has also provided the video clip in which Mallik had levelled serious charges against RJD leaders and others”, said Mr. Sharma.
However, local people told The Hindu that Mallik had a political rivalry with a local leader Kalu Paswan, although both were said to have reached a compromise.
Meanwhile, the killing of the Dalit leader also took a political colour in the poll-bound State. Ruling JD(U) leader Ajay Alok on Sunday demanded that the Election Commission should order a CBI probe into the incident as the election schedule had been declared in the State.
“Such has been the character of RJD leaders…they sell party tickets to amass wealth…Shakti Mallik and his family must get justice”, said BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand.
RJD leaders have called the allegations and the FIR politically motivated in view of the upcoming election.
“The FIR and charges made against party leaders Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap are baseless, fake and fabricated..it is nothing but politically motivated”, RJD leader and party spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said.
