Tejashwi Yadav demands FIR against Bihar CM over Jamui victim photo post
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bihar's Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Friday, 25 September 2026, sharply escalated his attack on Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary over the Jamui sexual assault case, alleging that a post from Choudhary's social media account inadvertently exposed the identity of the minor victim — a potential violation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Yadav has demanded that the Bihar Police register a case against the Chief Minister and warned that his party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), will move court if police fail to act.
What Triggered the Controversy
According to reports, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary had met the Jamui victim and her family at his official residence in Patna on Thursday and posted a photograph of the meeting along with a message assuring the family of speedy justice. The post was subsequently deleted, but a screenshot had already circulated online. Yadav alleged that the photograph in the post revealed the minor's identity, constituting a breach of POCSO safeguards.
Notably, the Bihar Police had already registered cases against approximately 120 social media accounts for circulating material — including a video of the original assault — that could identify the minor victim. Yadav argued that the same legal standards must apply uniformly, including to the Chief Minister's account.
RJD's Legal Threat and Political Salvo
The RJD has made clear that if the Bihar Police decline to take action against Choudhary, the party will approach a competent court and potentially make the police a party to the proceedings. Yadav's demand places the police in a politically sensitive position — having already enforced POCSO provisions against ordinary social media users, the force now faces scrutiny over whether it will apply the same standard to the state's top executive.
Yadav also fired a sharp remark at Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, who had separately condemned the Jamui incident. 'Forget about Chirag Paswan; he is the one reaping the benefits of that very system,' Yadav said. Paswan had called for strict action against those responsible for the assault.
Background: The Jamui Assault Case
The original incident reportedly occurred on 19 September, when a minor boy and girl travelling on a two-wheeler were intercepted by a group of youths near the Jamui-Lakhisarai road. A video of the assault subsequently surfaced on social media, triggering widespread outrage and police action.
A case was registered under relevant sections, including the POCSO Act, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed. Eight accused have since been arrested. One accused, identified by police as Nandan Yadav, was reportedly injured in a police encounter on 22 September; another accused, Hareram Yadav, was also reported injured.
Election Commission Remarks
Separately, Tejashwi Yadav reiterated the RJD's demand for the arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying the party's agitation would continue until its demands were addressed. He called on the CEC to publicly respond to questions being raised over the functioning of the Election Commission of India. The remarks came amid an ongoing broader political dispute over the poll panel's conduct.
Whether the deleted social media post constitutes an offence under the POCSO Act will ultimately depend on a determination by competent authorities or a court. The investigation into the original assault and the circulation of related material remains ongoing.