JD(U) MLA took MP help to help husband flee: Cops

Bihar’s Nitish Kumar-led Grand Secular Alliance government, already under attack for a deteriorating law and order situation, is likely to face the wrath of the Opposition parties after reports regarding JD(U) MLA from Rupauli in Purnia district helping her husband escape from police custody. According to sources in Purnia, Ms Bima Bharti’s husband, Mr Awadhesh Mandal, who has over 100 criminal cases pending against him, used her vehicle to flee from the police station where he was being interrogated. The police had arrested Mr Mandal for reportedly threatening the murdered Chanchal Paswan’s family members, including his wife and other witnesses, telling them “not to testify against him in court”. Sources said they had arrested Mr Mandal after complaints of him threatening the widow of Chanchal Paswan, who was murdered in 2005. Awadhesh Mandal is a main suspect in the case. The role of Santosh Kushwaha, JD(U) MP from Purnia, is also in question as sources claimed that “it was he who had distracted the police in order to help Mandal escape from police custody”.

They said Mr Mandal slipped out of police custody and escaped in Ms Bima Bharti’s SUV, which was parked outside the police station, while the JD(U) MP engaged the police in discussion. The police station’s SHO, Mr Shiv Shankar Kumar, was suspended after the incident and a special investigation team has been constituted to catch Mr Awadhesh Mandal. “The police will act on the basis of evidence. We have launched a manhunt to nab him,” a police official said.