MLA murder case: Rupam Pathak sent to jail

Purnia, Bihar: Rupam Pathak, accused of stabbing to death Bihar BJP MLA Raj Kishore Keshari, was on Thursday remanded in judicial custody for 14 days while the editor of a local weekly was arrested in connection with the murder.

Pathak, who had stabbed Keshari in full public view in his house at Sipahi Tola on January 4, was brought from Kathihar hospital by police and produced at the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate D L Prasad amid tight security. She had been undergoing treatment at the Kathihar hospital after being badly assaulted by those present at Keshari's residence during the incident. She will be lodged at the divisional jail following her remand.

Meanwhile, police launched a full-scale probe into the killing and arrested Navlesh Pathak, editor of local English weekly 'Quisling' which had for the first time reported Rupam's complaint about being sexually harassed by the MLA some months back.

The journalist was arrested after an FIR was lodged against him, Rupam and an unknown person by the MLA's nephew Sudip on Wednesday night, DIG (Purnia range) Amit Kumar told. The FIR also complained of conspiracy behind the murder.

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While the identity of the unknown person was yet to be known, police subjected Navlesh to marathon grilling during the day.

The family members of Navlesh have alleged that police were biased and apprehended threat to him under custody.

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Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi Kumar Modi, who attended Keshari's funeral on Wednesday, has ruled out a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the killing.

"There is no possibility of the state government handing over the inquiry into the Keshari murder case to CBI at the moment. We also don't feel the necessity of ordering a judicial probe as the state police police is fully competent to conduct the investigation," he had told newsmen.

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There have been demands for a CBI probe into the killing of the MLA by RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Bihar PCC chief Mehboob Ali Kaiser besides some members of the ruling NDA.

In a petition to the state women's commission, Rupam's mother, Kumud Mishra also demanded a CBI probe alleging that Keshari and his aides had been "mentally and sexually torturing, harassing and threatening her constantly".

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She said, "It is wrong to say that my daughter is mentally unfit. She was running her school satisfactorily. She is innocent," adding, "Keshari's character is known to everybody in Purnia."

Left parties CPI-ML (L), CPI and CPI (M) also demanded immediate arrest of Keshari's aide Bipin Rai and full protection to Rupam. They castigated the police for arresting the editor.