Bihar – The Anant Singh arrest in a late-night operation on Saturday has sent shockwaves through Bihar’s political landscape just days before the Assembly elections. The Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama was detained in connection with the murder of Jan Suraaj supporter Dularchand Yadav, raising serious questions about criminalization in politics and electoral violence.
Singh has been fielded by the JD(U) from his traditional stronghold Mokama, which is scheduled to vote in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections on November 6. The Anant Singh arrest comes at a critical juncture, threatening to disrupt the party’s electoral calculations in this key constituency.
Profile: Who is Anant Singh?
The Anant Singh arrest brings renewed attention to one of Bihar’s most controversial political figures. A don-turned-politician, Singh has represented the Mokama Assembly constituency for the past two decades, having made his electoral debut in 2005. His political journey reflects the complex interplay between muscle power and electoral politics that has long characterized certain regions of Bihar.
Singh’s family has maintained a virtual monopoly over the Mokama seat since 1990, except for a brief period when the constituency was captured by a rival “bahubali.” This dynastic control over the seat has made Mokama synonymous with the Singh family’s political dominance.
Electoral Journey and Party Affiliations
Following his initial victory in 2005, Singh was re-elected in 2010, demonstrating his growing influence in the constituency. The 2015 elections saw a significant development when Singh quit the JD(U) and contested as an Independent candidate, yet managed to secure victory, underlining his personal vote bank independent of party affiliations.
Prior to the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, Singh joined the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and once again emerged victorious. However, his political career faced a major setback in 2022 when he was convicted in an arms case, resulting in the loss of his legislative seat.
Following this conviction, his wife Neelam Devi contested the subsequent bye-election and won, currently representing the Mokama constituency. The Anant Singh arrest now occurs as he attempts a political comeback, this time contesting on a JD(U) ticket.
Criminal Record and Asset Declaration
The Anant Singh arrest is hardly surprising given his extensive criminal history. According to the nomination papers he filed for the upcoming polls, Singh has 28 ongoing cases against him. These cases include serious charges such as murder, criminal conspiracy, torture, kidnapping, and assault—painting a picture of a politician deeply entangled with the criminal justice system.
Despite these serious allegations, or perhaps because of the power they represent, Singh has amassed considerable wealth. He declared movable and immovable assets worth ₹37.88 crore in his nomination papers, raising questions about the sources of such substantial wealth accumulation.
History of Violence in Mokama
The Anant Singh arrest is not an isolated incident in Mokama’s violence-prone political landscape. Earlier in January 2025, heavy exchange of fire was reported between Singh’s group and his rival Sonu-Monu gang. Following that incident, Singh had surrendered in court after being named in two FIRs and was subsequently sent to jail.
That episode came shortly after Singh’s release from Beur jail in Patna in August 2024, following his acquittal in an Arms Act case. This pattern of arrests, jail terms, and releases has characterized Singh’s recent political trajectory, with the current Anant Singh arrest being the latest chapter.
Details of Dularchand Yadav Murder Case
The circumstances leading to the Anant Singh arrest revolve around the murder of Jan Suraaj supporter Dularchand Yadav, who was shot dead on October 30 during firing between two groups amid election campaigning in Mokama. The incident also involved stone-throwing as supporters of rival groups clashed, resulting in multiple injuries.
Following a detailed investigation, Singh was arrested along with two associates—Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya Sharma stated, “It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case.”
This statement from the Patna SSP indicates that the Anant Singh arrest is based on substantial evidence placing him at the scene and implicating him as the primary accused in the murder.
Electoral Implications
The Anant Singh arrest has dramatically altered the electoral dynamics in Mokama, a constituency infamous as a stronghold of influential and often controversial ‘bahubalis.’ The seat is now set to witness an intense contest between Singh and his rival Veena Devi.
The timing of the Anant Singh arrest, coming just days before voting in the first phase, raises questions about its potential impact on voter sentiment and the JD(U)’s electoral prospects. Whether voters will rally behind Singh as they have in the past, or whether this arrest will finally turn public opinion against him, remains to be seen.
Conclusion
The Anant Singh arrest underscores the persistent challenge of criminalization in Indian politics, particularly in constituencies where muscle power has traditionally determined electoral outcomes. As Bihar prepares to vote, the Mokama constituency stands as a litmus test for whether the electorate will continue to support candidates with serious criminal backgrounds or demand cleaner political representation.
