Protests erupt as Pappu Yadav is arrested in Bihar forgery case
Protests erupt as Pappu Yadav is arrested in Bihar forgery case
Congress protests erupt in Patna after Pappu Yadav's 1995 forgery arrest, with lawmakers accusing the government of political vendetta.
The opposition Congress gathered in Patna on Sunday, February 8, 2026, staging a demonstration outside the party headquarters, Sadaqat Ashram, to protest the arrest of Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan, known as Pappu Yadav, in a case dating back to 1995. Yadav was arrested on Friday night from his Mandiri residence in connection with Section 467 (forgery of documents) of the IPC. A Patna court sent him to two days of judicial custody on Saturday, but due to ill health he remains admitted at Patna Medical College and Hospital until the next hearing on Monday.
Congress workers burned an effigy of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar outside the party headquarters, accusing the NDA government in the state of political vendetta. Premchand Singh alleged that the government was “failing to provide justice to our daughters” and instead was “jailing those who raise their voices.” Arti Rai said Yadav is a leader who connected with the common people of Bihar and urged his release, calling the treatment unfair. Earlier in the day, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav told reporters, “Dictatorship has been established in the state. While criminals are going scot-free, the non-guilty are being trapped.”
The arrest also draws attention to Yadav’s vocal role in highlighting alleged issues in the state, including concerns raised by medical aspirants in Patna. The court is expected to hear his bail plea on the next hearing date, as health considerations keep him admitted at PMCH.
