ANANT SINGH’S FATE HINGE ON POLICE INVESTIGATION

ANANT SINGH’S FATE HINGE ON POLICE INVESTIGATION

31-OCT-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA------------------------What will happen when MLA Anant Singh surrenders in court on December 1st? If he is sent to jail, how soon can he file a bail application? Will he even be granted bail? What lies ahead? These are critical legal questions for Anant Singh, who finds himself caught in both a legal and a political crisis. His very membership in the Legislative Assembly is also at risk. Will this dual crisis surrounding Anant Singh affect the politics of the JDU?

Anant Singh’s legal situation now depends, to a significant extent, on the further investigation by the Bihar Police. The Supreme Court has directed the police to complete the remaining investigation into the Dularchand murder case within four months. If the police manage to gather scientific evidence against Anant Singh within this timeframe, securing bail will become difficult for him. Anant Singh faces charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Conversely, if the police fail to collect concrete evidence of the murder or clarify his role within these four months, the likelihood of him being granted bail will increase.

The police file a charge sheet against an accused based on the evidence they present. Following the charge sheet, testimonies are recorded from both the defense and the prosecution, and lawyers from both sides present their arguments. After hearing all arguments and examining the evidence and facts, the court conducts a thorough review to determine whether or not bail should be granted. Whether Anant Singh remains in jail or is released on bail will depend on the evidence and facts that the police present to the court during this four-month investigation.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, the pressure on the Bihar Police to conclude this investigation within four months has intensified. The next hearing in this case has been scheduled for four months from now. In other words, the police have until March 2027, at the latest, to complete their work. When the next hearing takes place in four months, the police will be required to submit a status report to the Supreme Court.

What has transpired in the police investigation so far? How, exactly, did Anant Singh manage to secure bail from the Patna High Court? The police’s lapses cast doubt on their investigation during the High Court proceedings. There was a discrepancy between the post-mortem report and the claims made in the FIR; the medical findings effectively debunked the police’s theory. Based on witness statements, the police had alleged in the FIR that Anant Singh had shot and killed Dularchand Yadav. However, a panel of doctors stated in the post-mortem report that Dularchand Yadav had sustained only a single gunshot wound to his leg—an injury that could not have been fatal. His death was, in fact, caused by the trauma of being run over by a vehicle, which triggered a heart attack.

Anant Singh’s legal counsel argued in court that the police investigation was flawed, as the post-mortem report clearly indicated that Dularchand Yadav’s death was not caused by a gunshot, but rather by severe trauma and a heart attack. Furthermore, the police failed to establish any direct involvement by Anant Singh in the murder. While the police claimed that Anant Singh was present during a clash involving an election convoy, from a legal standpoint, mere 'presence' is distinct from 'carrying out an attack with the intent to kill.' Additionally, the police could not determine who, amidst the chaos of the violent clash, had driven a vehicle over Dularchand Yadav.

The Patna Police filed a charge sheet in this case in January 2026, noting at the time that certain aspects of the investigation remained ongoing. The Supreme Court has now issued a strict directive to complete this remaining investigation within four months—a process the Court has referred to in its order as 'further investigation.' Therefore, the police's ongoing investigation is now the most critical aspect of this case. To a large extent, Anant Singh’s legal future hinges on this investigation. While he could file a bail application within these four months, the lower court—following the Supreme Court’s observations—will now carefully examine several key points.

This case is highly sensitive for Bihar’s political landscape. For political reasons, the JD(U) has expelled MLA Anant Singh from the party. A move initiated by the party to revoke his legislative membership is currently pending before the Speaker. Should Anant Singh lose his seat amidst this legal crisis, it could potentially impact the JD(U)’s political dynamics. Who could have imagined that the conflict between Anant Singh and Neeraj Kumar would take such a turn?