PATNA, February 20: The Election Commission's guidelines seem to have finally cornered Sadhu Yadav, the all powerful brother-in-law of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav. With Gopalganj police officials chasing him with an arrest warrant for allegedly slapping a police officer on duty, even a phone call from the Chief Minister's residence has failed to deter the determined cops.The recent suspension of the district magistrate of Gaya M S Raju at the instructions of the CEC has unnverved the entire bureaucracy and police officials. While police have searched every possible hide-out, Sadhu Yadav is said to be hiding at the Chief Minister's residence.
On Wednesday, Yadav alongwith a motorcade of nearly nine cars, was on his way to Gopalganj to garner support for the RJD candidate there. At the Baikunthpur checkpost, the police signaled the car to stop. However, Yadav ignored the signal and continued to drive towards Gopalganj. He is alleged to have threatened and abused the policemen.
Thedistrict control room was informed of the violation and the cars were intercepted by Inspector Amarnath Jha near Gopalganj police station. An infuriated Yadav not only threatened the official of dire consequences but also slapped him. Later, the motorcade left for its destination. The humiliated officer reported the mutter to the Superintendent of Police Bhatti. A formal FIR was filed against Yadav and three of his accomplices --Riazul Haque, district chief of RJD, Sikandar Kushwaha, district youth chief and one more person.
Bhatti instructed his men to trace Yadav and arrest him. By this time the news had reached Patna. Bhatti was contacted by the Chief minister's residence, but he refused to oblige.
DGP S K Saxena was then asked by higher-ups to make Bhatti fall in line. But the latter refused asking the DGP to give the order in writing. Saxena has been given two extensions in his present job, first by the Laloo government and then by Rabri Devi.
Sadhu Yadav had by then left the district headingstraight for Patna. According to sources, Bhatti has requestd senior police officials to seek permission to arrest Yadav from the official residence of the Chief Minister.
Gopalganj police says it carried out intensive search at his native village. The police has also seized three cars from the residence of his father-in-law. Laloo Prasad feels that his rivals are taking undue advantage of the CEC guidelines to ensure the defeat of his party candidates.
When contacted, the chief electoral officer A K Basu told The Indian Express, "So far we have not issued any instruction to the State government to arrest Sadhu Yadav for violating the code of conduct, but the CEC has been apprised of the development. If the CEC gives instructions for his arrest, the police may be asked to trace him from any place before the elections".
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
