Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Saraogi targets Tejashwi Yadav over Jamui harassment case
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sanjay Saraogi on 22 September launched a sharp counter-attack against Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, accusing him of exploiting the Jamui minor student harassment case for political gain while himself violating the privacy of the victims. Saraogi also defended the state police's swift action against the accused, citing multiple arrests within 24 hours of the incident coming to light.
Key Accusations Against Tejashwi Yadav
Saraogi alleged that Tejashwi Yadav and other Opposition leaders had shared the viral video of the incident on their social-media accounts, thereby disclosing the identity of the minor victims — an act he described as a direct breach of their privacy. He warned that the government would take action against anyone found to have revealed the victims' identities, regardless of political affiliation.
Saraogi also raised a separate allegation, claiming that an FIR had been registered in connection with an incident involving a woman at Tejashwi's own residence — a charge he used to question the Opposition leader's credibility on law-and-order matters.
Police Action and Arrests
Defending the Nitish Kumar government's response, Saraogi stated that three arrests were made within 8 hours of the Jamui incident surfacing. The two main accused — identified as Nandan Yadav and Hare Ram Yadav — were subsequently apprehended during police action within 24 hours.
Nandan Yadav, identified by police as the primary accused, sustained a leg injury during a police encounter on Tuesday and was taken to Jamui Sadar Hospital for treatment. Hare Ram Yadav was also arrested and admitted to the same facility, according to Saraogi.
Saraogi quoted the Chief Minister's directive to police: 'The outcome of any incident should be delivered within 48 hours,' characterising this as evidence of the administration's resolve. Police have confirmed the encounter occurred during an operation to apprehend the accused; the precise circumstances remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Crackdown on Video Circulation
Authorities have separately initiated action against social-media accounts involved in circulating footage from the incident. Police and officials have repeatedly appealed to the public to refrain from sharing or reposting the video or any material that could identify the minor victims, citing the legal protections available to survivors of such cases.
What Happens Next
The Jamui case remains under active investigation, with police examining the roles of other individuals allegedly involved in the incident as well as in the wider circulation of the video. The political exchange between the BJP and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is expected to intensify as the investigation progresses, with both sides framing the case as a test of governance and accountability in Bihar.