Bihar POCSO case: Hareram Yadav sent to 14-day judicial custody in Jamui assault
Synopsis
The Jamui minor assault case has expanded into a twin-track investigation — a POCSO prosecution with eight arrests including the main accused nabbed after a police encounter, and a cybercrime sweep targeting roughly 120 social media accounts that allegedly circulated unblurred footage of the victims. With one accused still absconding and the cyber net widening, the case raises urgent questions about both child safety and digital accountability in Bihar.
Key Takeaways
Hareram Yadav was remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a special POCSO court in Jamui, Bihar on 23 September 2026 .
A total of eight arrests have been made — five in the molestation case and three for circulating a viral video.
Main accused Nandan Yadav was apprehended after sustaining a gunshot injury during a police encounter on Tuesday.
One accused, Ranjeet Ram of Pratappur, remains absconding .
The Jamui Cyber Police Station has identified approximately 120 social media accounts allegedly involved in spreading video content that exposed the minor victims' identities.
Cases have been registered under the POCSO Act , IT Act , and Juvenile Justice Act .
Hareram Yadav, arrested in connection with the alleged assault and molestation of a minor girl in Bihar's Jamui district, was produced before a special POCSO court on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. The court appearance marked a significant procedural step in a case that has drawn widespread public attention and triggered parallel cybercrime investigations.
Court Appearance and Commotion
After being declared medically fit, Yadav was brought before Maheshwar Dubey, Special Judge for POCSO cases, who formally remanded him to custody. The proceedings, however, were briefly disrupted when advocate Akash Pandey allegedly slapped Yadav inside the court premises. Pandey reportedly justified the act by stating he felt deep outrage against the accused and described the slap as symbolic of the anger of the entire town of Jamui.
Arrests and Key Accused
Jamui Superintendent of Police Vishwajeet Dayal confirmed that eight arrests have been made in total — five in connection with the alleged molestation and three in connection with the circulation of a viral video linked to the case. One of the three individuals initially detained as juveniles was subsequently found to be an adult, according to police.
The main accused, Nandan Yadav, was apprehended on Tuesday after sustaining a gunshot injury to his leg during a police encounter. Hareram Yadav had been arrested prior to Nandan's apprehension. Two minors and another accused found to be on the borderline of adulthood have already been sent to a juvenile correction facility and jail, respectively.
Investigators have identified six individuals in the alleged molestation case. Five have been arrested; one accused, Ranjeet Ram of Pratappur, remains absconding.
Cybercrime Angle: Video Circulation Under Scrutiny
A separate case — registered as Case No. 45/2026 at the Jamui Cyber Police Station — concerns the circulation of unblurred videos involving the minor victims, which police say exposed their identities. The Cyber Police Station has identified approximately 120 social media accounts allegedly involved in spreading the content and is preparing further action.
Three social media handlers have already been arrested and sent to judicial custody: Yogendra Prasad Yadav of Auraiya Para Matihana in Sono block, Faiyaz Shah of Adsar in Jamui city, and Ramashish Kumar of Sagma in Chandradeep block. Cases have also been registered against several others allegedly involved in circulating the video on Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Legal Framework and What Comes Next
Cases have been registered under relevant provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. This layered legal approach reflects the dual nature of the investigation — addressing both the alleged physical assault and the online amplification of material that identified the minor victims.
Investigators are continuing to trace accounts through available digital links, and efforts are underway to locate the absconding accused. The scale of the cybercrime probe — spanning roughly 120 accounts across multiple platforms — signals that accountability may extend well beyond the initial circle of alleged perpetrators.
Point of View
If executed, would set a rare precedent for platform-level accountability in Indian state-level POCSO cases. Yet the critical gap remains: one accused is still absconding, and the advocate's act of slapping the accused in open court signals a law-and-order fraying that courts and the state police must address directly. The dual prosecution track — physical assault and video circulation — is the right approach, but coordination between local police and the cyber cell will determine whether it holds.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jamui POCSO case in Bihar?
The Jamui POCSO case involves the alleged assault and molestation of a minor girl in Bihar's Jamui district, with multiple accused arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. A parallel investigation is also under way into the circulation of videos that allegedly exposed the identity of the minor victims.
Who is Hareram Yadav and why was he sent to judicial custody?
Hareram Yadav is one of the accused in the alleged molestation of a minor girl in Jamui district, Bihar. He was produced before a special POCSO court on 23 September 2026 and remanded to 14-day judicial custody after being declared medically fit.
Who is the main accused in the Jamui case and how was he arrested?
Police have identified Nandan Yadav as the main accused. He was apprehended on Tuesday after sustaining a gunshot injury to his leg during a police encounter, and is in custody.
What is being done about the viral video linked to the case?
A separate case (Case No. 45/2026) has been registered at the Jamui Cyber Police Station for the circulation of unblurred videos that exposed the identities of the minor victims. Authorities have identified around 120 social media accounts allegedly involved in spreading the content, and three social media handlers have already been arrested.
Under which laws have cases been registered in the Jamui incident?
Cases have been registered under the Information Technology (IT) Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, covering both the alleged physical assault and the online circulation of identifying material.
