'I don't know': Amid row over warrant against new Law Minister Kartikeya Singh, CM Nitish Kumar feigns ignorance

Bihar news: "I ask Nitish, is he trying to take Bihar back to Lalu's times? Kartikey Singh should be dismissed," said senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushil Kumar Modi.

TN National Desk

Updated Aug 17, 2022, 13:49 IST

File picture: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

Photo : PTI

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Mokama resident Kartikeya Singh is a teacher by profession
RJD MLC Kartikeya Singh responded to the controversy, saying: "All MLAs and ministers submit an affidavit. There is nothing like that in it"
Reports claim that Kartikeya Singh was scheduled to surrender in Danapur court on August 16. However, he went to Patna instead and took oath as a minister in Nitish Kumar's government

Patna: After the induction of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Kartikeya Singh as Bihar's Law Minister on the day he was about to surrender in Danapur court in a kidnapping case sparked controversy, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday spoke on the matter.

Interestingly, the Janata Dal (United) chief denied having any information regarding the arrest warrant allegedly issued for Kartikeya Singh.

"I do not know. I have no information about this," said the Bihar CM when asked about Kartikeya Singh's arrest warrant for his alleged role in a 2014 kidnapping case.

Earlier in the day, news agency ANI mentioned senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushil Kumar Modi as saying that if Kartikeya Singh had a warrant against him, he should have surrendered.

"But he has taken oath as Law minister. I ask Nitish, is he trying to take Bihar back to Lalu's times? Kartikey Singh should be dismissed," said the Rajya Sabha MP.

Notably, after Nitish Kumar switched sides and formed a 'Mahagathbandhan' with RJD, the BJP, which was part of the ruling coalition, is now in the opposition.

Meanwhile, RJD MLC Kartikeya Singh also responded to the Opposition's demands that he be dismissed for an allegedly outstanding arrest warrant. "All MLAs and ministers submit an affidavit. There is nothing like that in it," said Kartikeya Singh.

According to reports, on August 16, Kartikeya Singh was scheduled to surrender in Danapur court in a kidnapping case, but instead, he went to Patna to take an oath as a minister in Nitish Kumar's government.

In 2014, Patna's Bihta police station registered a kidnapping case against Karthikeya Singh and 17 others. It is alleged that he conspired to kidnap a builder with the intent to murder him. A chargesheet was filed.

The warrant for Singh's arrest was issued on July 14, 2022, and he was to surrender on August 16, 2022, reported India TV. However, he went to take oath instead.

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