Lagatar24 Desk
Patna, Aug 17: A controversy has arisen over the appointment of RJD MLC Kartikeya Singh as Bihar’s law minister, one day after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar extended his new cabinet on Tuesday by appointing 31 new members, including a sizable contingent of 16 from key ally RJD.
Kartikeya Singh was scheduled to appear in court in Danapur on August 16 in connection with a kidnapping case, but instead, he travelled to Patna’s Raj Bhavan to take an oath of office as a new minister in the Nitish Kumar administration of Bihar.
In 2014, a case of kidnapping was registered against Karthikeya Singh and 17 others in Patna’s Bihta police station. He was accused of conspiracy to kidnap a builder with the intent to murder. In this case, a chargesheet has been submitted. On July 14, 2022, a warrant was issued for Singh, and although he was supposed to appear in court on August 16, 2022, he went to take an oath instead.
He has been charged under sections 363(kidnapping), 364 (kidnapping with intent to murder), 365 (Secret, unjustified kidnapping with intent to imprison), and 34 (The incident was committed by more than one person). Earlier, Patna High Court had rejected the anticipatory bail petition on 16 February 2017. Later on, Kartikeya Singh was granted interim protection till 1st September by the court on 12th August.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi said, “If Kartikeya Singh (RJD) had a warrant against him, he should have surrendered. But he has taken oath as Law minister. I ask Nitish, is he trying to take Bihar back to Lalu’s times? Kartikey Singh should be immediately dismissed.”
Delhi | If Kartikeya Singh (RJD) had a warrant against him, he should have surrendered. But he has taken oath as Law minister. I ask Nitish, is he trying to take Bihar back to Lalu's times? Kartikey Singh should be immediately dismissed: Sushil Kumar Modi, BJP MP pic.twitter.com/VcGnzYn96F
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2022
