Arrested First, FIR Later: Tej Pratap Yadav Sent to 14-Day Judicial Custody Over NEET Bandh Violence

Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) national president Tej Pratap Yadav has been sent to 14-day judicial custody after his arrest in connection with violence during Saturday's Bihar Bandh called over the NEET paper leak row, with his lawyer alleging he was picked up before any FIR was registered against him.

Yadav's counsel, Jagannath Singh, said the FIR was registered only on July 26, while the arrest was made around 7.30 pm on July 25 from a shopping mall in Patna. He was produced before a judicial magistrate around 12.15 am on Sunday and sent to judicial custody, and is currently lodged in Beur Central Jail. Singh said a bail plea would be moved before a competent court on Monday, and supporters accused police of not initially disclosing the charges against him.

Police said Yadav had joined student protesters during a sit-in at Ram Gulam Chowk in Patna and, after reviewing CCTV footage, alleged he had incited demonstrators, leading to vandalism, arson and the toppling of police vehicles. Clashes between protesters and police were reported from several districts including Saran, Siwan, Aurangabad and Bhagalpur, with police resorting to tear gas and baton charge in parts of Patna. Before his detention, Yadav had declared his support for the agitating students, saying he was " ready to lay down his life " for their cause, and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has since stepped down amid the protests.

Reacting to the arrest, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, who is contesting the Bankipur assembly bypoll, alleged that Yadav was jailed because he had supported him, accusing the BJP of misusing the administration to harass Jan Suraaj leaders and their backers. Yadav, who floated the JJD after being expelled from RJD by his father Lalu Prasad, had recently extended support to Kishor in Bankipur after the returning officer rejected the nomination of JJD candidate Vina Mandavi. He had argued that though considered a BJP stronghold, public sentiment in Bankipur now favoured change.

Police have not officially commented on the lawyer's allegation regarding the sequence of the arrest and FIR registration.