Jamui molestation case: Bihar BJP defends govt, main accused held in 24 hours
Synopsis
A molestation case in Jamui has spiralled into a dual controversy in Bihar — first over police response speed, and then over the Chief Minister's official X handle publishing an identifiable photo of the minor victim. Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi claims the main accused was nabbed within 24 hours and a POCSO case filed against the employee who posted the image, but the opposition's Tejashwi Yadav is pressing hard on the photo lapse.
Key Takeaways
Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi defended the state government over the Jamui molestation case on 26 September 2026 .
According to Saraogi, three accused were arrested within eight hours and the main accused within 24 hours of the incident.
A photograph of the minor victim was shared from Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary's official X handle, triggering a legal and political controversy.
The employee allegedly responsible for posting the image faces departmental action and a case under the POCSO Act .
Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav accused Choudhary of violating the POCSO Act and called him 'foolish and inept'.
Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Sanjay Saraogi on Saturday, 26 September 2026, mounted a defence of the state government's handling of the Jamui molestation case, asserting that swift police action led to the arrest of the main accused within 24 hours of the incident. His remarks came amid a widening controversy over the publication of a photograph of the minor victim from the official X handle of Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
Police Action and Arrests
Saraogi stressed the speed of law-enforcement response in the case. 'Look, as far as the Jamui case is concerned, as soon as the police came to know about it, three accused were arrested within eight hours. The main accused was arrested within 24 hours,' he said. He added that the police had been given a free hand in dealing with such crimes: 'Whenever a crime occurs, the police have been given a free hand to take action,' Saraogi stated.
Controversy Over Victim's Photo
The controversy erupted on Thursday when a photograph of the minor girl — who was allegedly molested earlier that week in Jamui — along with her parents, was shared from Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary's official X account. The family had met Choudhary at his official residence in Patna. Publishing an image that identifies a minor victim in a sexual offence case drew sharp public criticism and raised serious legal concerns.
Action Against Employee Responsible
Addressing the photo controversy directly, Saraogi said disciplinary and legal measures had been taken. 'Action was taken against the employee who was responsible for the negligence, and a case was also registered against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act,' he said. The employee allegedly responsible for posting the image has since faced departmental action alongside the criminal case.
Opposition Fires Back
Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, shared a screenshot of the post on X and launched a sharp attack on the Chief Minister. Yadav described Choudhary as 'foolish and inept' and accused him of 'violating the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.' The criticism reflects a broader political battle over the state government's accountability in handling sensitive cases involving minors. This comes amid sustained scrutiny of law-and-order conditions in Bihar ahead of local electoral cycles.
What Happens Next
With a POCSO case now registered against the employee responsible for the photograph, and all accused in the molestation case reportedly in custody, the case moves toward the trial stage. Legal experts note that sharing identifiable images of minor victims — regardless of intent — constitutes a serious violation under POCSO and can invite prosecution. The political fallout is likely to continue as the opposition demands greater accountability from the Choudhary administration.
Point of View
Avoidable lapse — publishing an identifiable image of a minor victim — hands the opposition exactly the accountability argument it needs. A POCSO case against a government staffer for a social-media post from a Chief Minister's official handle is, in itself, a damning admission of institutional failure. Tejashwi Yadav's attack may be politically motivated, but the legal question is straightforward: POCSO's prohibition on identifying minor victims is unambiguous, and 'employee negligence' is not a statutory defence. The deeper issue mainstream coverage underweights is systemic — if the Chief Minister's communications office lacks a basic compliance filter for sensitive cases, the problem is structural, not individual.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jamui molestation case in Bihar?
The Jamui molestation case involves the alleged molestation of a minor girl in Jamui, Bihar. According to Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi, police arrested three accused within eight hours of the incident and nabbed the main accused within 24 hours.
Why is Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary's X handle at the centre of a controversy?
A photograph identifying the minor victim and her parents was shared from Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary's official X account after the family visited his residence in Patna. Sharing images that identify minor victims in sexual offence cases is prohibited under the POCSO Act, triggering both political criticism and legal action.
What action was taken over the posting of the victim's photograph?
The employee allegedly responsible for the post has faced departmental action, and a case has been registered against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, according to BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi.
What did Tejashwi Yadav say about the Jamui case?
Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, shared a screenshot of the controversial post on X and accused Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary of being 'foolish and inept' and of 'violating the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.'
What does POCSO say about publishing images of minor victims?
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act strictly prohibits the publication or disclosure of any information that could identify a minor victim of a sexual offence. Violations can attract criminal prosecution, as seen in the case registered against the employee involved in this incident.
