Trinamool Congress MP and actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha on Monday demanded the immediate release of Tej Pratap Yadav, president of the Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) and elder son of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, whose arrest has deepened the political storm surrounding student protests over the NEET paper leak in Bihar. Sinha also called for the withdrawal of all cases registered against demonstrators in the state.

Sinha's Intervention on X

Posting on social media platform X, Sinha criticised the Bihar administration's handling of protests that swept through districts including Patna, Siwan, and Chhapra, describing the state's approach toward demonstrators as condemnable. He urged the Bihar government to withdraw all protest-related cases, drawing a comparison with what he characterised as a settlement reached in Delhi over similar demonstrations. He also tagged political strategist Prashant Kishor in the post, praising him as an effective leader.

Political Motivation Questioned

Sinha went further, publicly questioning whether Tej Pratap Yadav's arrest was politically motivated. He pointed to Tej Pratap's recent expression of support for Prashant Kishor and asked whether considerations linked to the upcoming Bankipur Assembly by-election had influenced the decision to detain him. The suggestion has sharpened the political edge of what the government has framed as a law-and-order matter.

What Led to the Arrest

Tej Pratap Yadav had joined student protests in Bihar in solidarity with demonstrators agitating over alleged examination irregularities, including the NEET paper leak. He was subsequently arrested and remanded to judicial custody, and is currently lodged in Beur Central Jail in Patna. Bihar Police have maintained that the action was taken in connection with cases arising from violence during the protests, including allegations of rioting and obstruction of public servants. Hundreds of protesters were detained across several districts during the demonstrations.

Legal and Political Pushback

Tej Pratap's legal team has challenged the arrest and filed for bail. Opposition parties have continued to criticise the Bihar government's response to the protests, arguing that the crackdown has been disproportionate. This is not the first time that student agitations in Bihar have escalated into broader political confrontations — the state has a long history of examination-related protests drawing in established political figures.

What Comes Next

With the Bankipur by-election looming and opposition pressure mounting, the Bihar government faces a test of how it manages the dual challenge of student unrest and high-profile political detentions. Tej Pratap's bail hearing is expected to be a closely watched development in the days ahead.