Tej Pratap Yadav expels aide, dissolves JJD after ₹20 lakh theft complaint
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Tej Pratap Yadav, chief of the Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD), expelled his personal assistant and the party's National General Secretary, Motilal Yadav, from all party posts on Tuesday, 23 June, and simultaneously dissolved both the national and state organisational units of the party. The dramatic move followed a theft complaint Tej Pratap filed at the Secretariat Police Station in Patna, alleging that Motilal Yadav stole cash, jewellery, electronic devices, and important documents from his official residence at 42 Harding Road.
The Expulsion and Party Dissolution
Tej Pratap announced Motilal Yadav's removal via his social media account, stating that the expulsion took effect immediately. In the same announcement, he declared the dissolution of the JJD's national and state organisational structures, adding that a new team would be constituted in the near future. The twin decisions — expulsion and dissolution — signal a significant internal rupture within the party, which Tej Pratap himself leads.
What the Theft Complaint Alleges
According to the complaint lodged by Tej Pratap Yadav, the alleged theft took place on the night of 22 June. The First Information Report (FIR) lists several items as missing, including approximately ₹20 lakh in cash reportedly kept as party funds, a gold chain weighing around two tolas, a gold ring, four drones, two hard disks, an iPad, a MacBook laptop, a Lenovo laptop, and four iPhone 17 Pro Max mobile phones. The total value of the missing items is estimated at several lakhs of rupees, according to the complaint.
Tej Pratap stated in the complaint that his driver and another associate allegedly witnessed Motilal Yadav leaving the residence carrying a bag on the night in question. When household belongings were subsequently checked, the cash and other valuables were reportedly found missing.
Police Response and Investigation
Personnel from the Secretariat Police Station visited 42 Harding Road following the complaint and initiated a formal investigation. According to officials, the inquiry is expected to cover verification of the missing items, examination of witness and staff statements, review of available surveillance footage, and an assessment of the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft. At present, all allegations remain under investigation, and further legal action will depend on the findings of the police inquiry.
Political Significance
The incident has drawn considerable political attention in Bihar, given the high-profile nature of both the complainant and the accused. This is not the first time Tej Pratap Yadav, son of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, has made headlines for intra-party turbulence. The JJD, a relatively small outfit in Bihar's crowded political landscape, now faces a period of organisational uncertainty as its leadership navigates both a criminal complaint and a full party restructuring simultaneously. How police findings shape the political fallout will be closely watched in the days ahead.