The Supreme Court has cancelled the bail granted to Mokama MLA Anant Singh in the ongoing murder case of Dularchand Yadav, marking a significant legal setback for the legislator. In an order delivered on Friday, a bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and PV Varale directed the politician to surrender before the appropriate authorities on or before December 1, 2026.
The apex court’s decision follows a challenge filed by the grandson of the deceased, Niraj Kumar, who contested the regular bail granted to Singh by the Patna High Court on March 19, 2026. The Supreme Court observed that the High Court had erred in its assessment of the matter by failing to sufficiently consider both the nature of the offence and Singh’s extensive criminal antecedents. During the proceedings, counsel for the petitioner argued that Singh had not fully disclosed his history of 67 criminal cases when seeking relief.
The case centres on the death of Dularchand Yadav, who was a former Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and a supporter of the Jan Suraaj Party. The incident took place on October 30, 2025, in Mokama during the campaign period for the Bihar assembly elections. Reports indicate that the tragedy occurred when the campaign convoys of Anant Singh, then a Janata Dal (United) candidate, and Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi encountered each other, resulting in a violent confrontation between their respective supporters.
Police investigations into the event alleged that Yadav was struck by an SUV during the clash. While his family members claimed he was initially shot before being run over, the postmortem examination highlighted that the cause of death was cardiorespiratory failure resulting from severe injuries to the heart and lungs, caused by blunt force trauma. Following the incident, Anant Singh was named as the prime accused and was taken into custody on November 1, 2025. Two of his nephews were also arrested in connection with the case.
Despite his incarceration, Singh successfully contested the Mokama Assembly election and secured the seat, defeating RJD candidate Veena Devi by a margin of 28,206 votes. When the Patna High Court eventually granted him regular bail in March 2026, it did so on a bond of Rs 15,000, while cautioning him against tampering with evidence or intimidating witnesses throughout the duration of the trial.
The legal developments unfold against a backdrop of broader political instability for the legislator. Recently, the Janata Dal (United) expelled both Anant Singh and his wife, former MLA Neelam Devi, from the party for a period of six years. This disciplinary action was taken due to alleged anti-party activities, specifically Singh’s support for a Jan Suraaj-backed candidate in the Patna Graduates’ constituency election rather than the party's official nominee, Neeraj Kumar. The party has also sought intervention from the Bihar Assembly Speaker regarding Singh’s legislative membership under the anti-defection provisions of the Constitution.
With the Supreme Court’s latest ruling, the suspension of the High Court's bail order necessitates that Singh returns to judicial custody. The court's firm deadline of December 1 mandates that the MLA must surrender to face the legal proceedings regarding the 2025 election violence in Mokama.
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