Bihar Police Search MLA's Residence In Muzaffarpur Land Grab Case

Bihar Police on Sunday searched the residence of LJP (RV) MLA Amit Kumar Ranu, also known as Amit Singh Ranu. The operation followed a court warrant issued against the legislator from Belsand in Samastipur and his brother, Sonu Singh alias Abhinav.

Police registered the case on August 20. Officers filed charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita after a group allegedly demolished a structure on a Muzaffarpur plot.

Prahlad Kumar filed the complaint against Sumit Srivastava and more than 50 unidentified people. The accusations include criminal conspiracy, land grabbing, financial fraud, document forgery, theft, property damage and extortion through death threats.

Bulldozer Violence And Threats

Complainant Prahlad Kumar alleged that a group arrived with a bulldozer, a Scorpio and a Mahindra Thar to demolish construction on his land and nearby properties in the Ahiyapur area.

Kumar said he was assaulted during the incident. Assailants broke his phone when he attempted to record the demolition and snatched his gold chain.

The attackers threatened the occupants, warning they would be "buried in a pit dug by the bulldozer if they did not leave the land". They demanded payments to a figure referred to as "Boss" if they wanted to stay, whom the complainant identified as Sonu Singh, the MLA's brother.

"Based on the complaint, two accused, Srivastava and his aide Sunny Singh, were arrested. Subsequently, 12 others submitted complaints," Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kantesh Kumar Mishra said.

Police Uncover Forgery Evidence

SSP Mishra confirmed the legislator's role was found to be suspicious.

"We have found evidence relating to the MLA’s alleged involvement in the case," Mishra said.

During the search, officers recovered a signed blank stamp paper dated 2017, which police said constitutes a case of forgery. "We will also take appropriate legal action in that matter," Mishra added.

Sonu Singh is evading arrest. Officers will apprehend the MLA's brother soon, police said. The case links to an organised protection racket, Mishra said. In these syndicates, extortionists demand money and target those who refuse to pay.

Mishra added that the "entire gang will be exposed". Investigators are analyzing video recordings to identify other suspects.

Mishra said, "I want to issue a strict warning to land mafia: Under no circumstances, any negligence involving them will be tolerated. Everyone will face due action under the law."

Mishra visited the scene on Sunday. He spoke with the victims, gathered details of their grievances and ordered police officers to boost security to maintain local peace. The probe is ongoing and police will prosecute everyone involved in the crime, Mishra said.

MLA Denies All Allegations

NDA MLA Amit Kumar Ranu rejected all allegations and criticised the investigation.

"The search demonstrated the failure of the police," Ranu said.

He claimed investigators found no incriminating material at his Bairiya residence and maintained the disputed land does not belong to his family. Ranu said that officers had come looking for documents concerning property supposedly held in his or his family’s name, but had returned without finding any such papers.

The legislator said the property belongs to a family member of Sumit Srivastava, who is also a party member. Ranu said that Srivastava had repeatedly approached the police with documents to report illegal construction on the property by others.

"Police had, instead, registered a case against him (Srivastava) and arrested him," said the MLA.