Dularchand Yadav murder: SC to hear bail challenge against Anant Singh on Oct 30
Synopsis
Mokama MLA Anant Singh, who won his Bihar assembly seat from judicial custody, faces a Supreme Court hearing on 30 October that could cancel the bail granted to him in the Dularchand Yadav murder case — while simultaneously battling expulsion from JD(U) and a possible Tenth Schedule disqualification.
Key Takeaways
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on 30 October 2026 a plea challenging bail granted to Anant Singh in the Dularchand Yadav murder case .
The petition was filed by Niraj Kumar , grandson of the deceased, seeking cancellation of bail granted by the Patna High Court on 19 March 2026 .
Petitioner's counsel submitted that Singh's 67 criminal antecedents were not adequately considered during the bail hearing.
The apex court has ruled out any further adjournments after Singh's side sought a delay on 29 September .
JD(U) expelled Singh and his wife Neelam Devi for six years last week, and has also written to the Bihar Assembly Speaker seeking his disqualification under the Tenth Schedule .
Dularchand Yadav was killed on 30 October 2025 in Mokama during election campaigning; Singh was arrested on 1 November 2025 .
The Supreme Court is scheduled to take up on 30 October 2026 a petition seeking cancellation of bail granted to Mokama MLA Anant Singh by the Patna High Court in connection with the murder of Dularchand Yadav, who was killed during the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. The plea has been filed by Niraj Kumar, grandson of the deceased, and represents the latest legal challenge to Singh's freedom after multiple earlier bail rejections.
Background of the Case
Dularchand Yadav, a Jan Suraaj Party supporter and former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader, was killed on 30 October 2025 in Basawanchak village under the Ghoswari police station area of Mokama during election campaigning. According to police, an SUV allegedly ran over Yadav, causing his death on the spot. His family, however, alleged that he was first shot and subsequently run over by the vehicle.
Police identified Anant Singh as the prime accused and arrested him on the night of 1 November 2025. Two of his nephews were also taken into custody in connection with the case. Singh was sent to judicial custody on 2 November 2025. His earlier bail applications had been turned down by the MP-MLA court before the Patna High Court granted him relief on 19 March 2026.
Status of the Supreme Court Proceedings
The Special Leave Petition (SLP) is currently pending before a bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale. The apex court had issued notice on the plea on 13 July after the petitioner's counsel, Advocate Shilpi Chowdhary, submitted that Singh's 67 criminal antecedents had not been adequately considered by the High Court at the time of granting bail.
The matter was last listed on 29 September, when the court deferred the hearing to 30 October after Singh's counsel sought an adjournment to file a counter-affidavit. The Supreme Court made it clear at that stage that no further adjournment would be granted, signalling that proceedings are expected to move forward decisively.
Singh's Political Standing and Party Expulsion
Notably, despite being in judicial custody at the time, Singh contested the Mokama Assembly seat and won the election — a development that underscores the complex intersection of criminal proceedings and electoral politics in Bihar. However, his political standing has taken a fresh hit.
The Janata Dal (United) expelled Singh and his wife, former MLA Neelam Devi, from the party for six years last week over alleged anti-party activities during the Bihar Legislative Council elections. The party cited Singh's decision to oppose the JD(U) candidate Neeraj Kumar in the Patna Graduates' constituency election and instead campaign for Anuj Singh, a candidate linked to the Jan Suraaj platform.
The JD(U) has further written to the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly seeking action against Singh's legislative membership under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which governs disqualification on grounds of defection. If acted upon, this could strip Singh of his MLA seat.
What the October 30 Hearing Could Mean
With the Supreme Court having foreclosed further delays, the 30 October hearing is likely to determine whether Singh's bail stands or is cancelled, which would return him to custody. The case has broader implications for how courts weigh criminal antecedents in bail decisions involving elected representatives — a question of recurring significance in Indian jurisprudence. All eyes will be on the apex court's bench as Singh simultaneously faces legal scrutiny and a potential disqualification from the Bihar assembly.
Point of View
But the Supreme Court's refusal to grant further adjournments suggests the bench is alive to the accountability dimension. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is the convergence of pressures: a potential bail cancellation, a six-year party expulsion, and a Tenth Schedule petition all hitting simultaneously. The JD(U)'s aggressive move to write to the Assembly Speaker looks less like a principled anti-defection stand and more like a strategic clearing of political ground before the next Bihar electoral cycle.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dularchand Yadav murder case?
Dularchand Yadav, a Jan Suraaj Party supporter and former RJD leader, was killed on 30 October 2025 in Basawanchak village in Mokama during Bihar Assembly election campaigning. Police say an SUV allegedly ran him over; his family alleged he was first shot and then run over. Mokama MLA Anant Singh was identified as the prime accused and arrested on 1 November 2025.
Why is the Supreme Court hearing this case on October 30?
The Supreme Court is hearing a Special Leave Petition filed by Niraj Kumar, grandson of Dularchand Yadav, seeking cancellation of bail that the Patna High Court granted to Anant Singh on 19 March 2026. The court deferred the hearing to 30 October after Singh's counsel sought an adjournment on 29 September, while making clear no further delay would be allowed.
What are the 67 criminal antecedents mentioned in the case?
Petitioner's counsel Advocate Shilpi Chowdhary submitted before the Supreme Court that Anant Singh had not fully disclosed 67 criminal antecedents at the time the Patna High Court considered his bail plea. The argument is that these prior cases should have weighed more heavily in the bail decision.
How did Anant Singh win the Mokama seat while in custody?
Under Indian law, an undertrial prisoner who has not been convicted is not barred from contesting elections. Singh filed his nomination while in judicial custody and won the Mokama Assembly seat in the 2025 Bihar elections, a legally permissible but politically contested outcome.
What does the JD(U)'s expulsion and Tenth Schedule petition mean for Anant Singh?
JD(U) expelled Singh and his wife Neelam Devi for six years last week over alleged anti-party activities. The party has also written to the Bihar Assembly Speaker seeking Singh's disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with defection. If the Speaker acts on the petition, Singh could lose his MLA seat entirely.
