After going elusive for about a week, suspended JD(U) MlC Manorma Devi surrendered in a Gaya court on Tuesday morning and was sent to judicial custody for 14 days. She is mother of Rocky Yadav, the alleged killer of a teenaged son of a Gaya businessman who was shot dead in a road rage ten days back.
With Manorma Devi being sent to Gaya Central jail, her entire family including husband Bindi Yadav, son Rocky Yadav, a close relative Teni Yadav and her police bodyguard Rajesh Kumar, is behind bars and lodged in the same jail.
While others have been arrested in connection with the murder of Aditya Sachdeva allegedly by Rocky on May 7 in a road rage, Manorma faces charge under Excise Act for keeping liquor bottles in her house and also under Child labour Act for employing a child for house work.
The police had been conducting raids for the past six days to nab her after the police found liquor bottles from her house during a raid. She went missing soon after her son Rocky was arrested from Bodh Gaya last Tuesday. The JD(U) had suspended her from the party.
Her husband and history sheeter Bindi Yadav had been arrested soon after the murder of Aditya on charge of helping his son to escape. Devi’s bodyguard, who was with Rocky when the murder took place, was also arrested.
Rocky’s cousin Teni Yadav, who is suspected to be accompanying him at the time of the crime, surrendered on Monday and police took him on remand for interrogation.
Manorma surrendered after getting no relief from the court. She had moved for anticipatory bail but the district and session judge refused to provide her any relief and fixed May 19 for next hearing.
With her head down and looking badly shaken she surrendered before the court of judicial magistrate. On her way to the jail, she said, “They said they seized liquor bottles from my house. Do you think I drinkIJ” Her lawyer said he has petitioned that she should be kept in jail hospital since she is indisposed.
Manorma became the first lawmaker to be arrested under the new Excise Act which enforced total prohibition and making it cognisable offence. If convicted she could be sentenced to ten years prison besides Rs 10 lakh fine.
Expressing satisfaction over the arrest of Manorma, the family members of victim Aditya they demanded speedy trial of the case. Aditya’s mother Chanda Sachdeva said, “The police is working in right direction and there is no need for CBI probe.”
Incidentally, Manorma surrendered only a day after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his press conference asserted how long she will escape from law. Possibly she was also waiting for the result of his anticipatory bail plea which was turned down by the district and session judge on Monday. The police had also given her time till May 20 to appear before it or her house, which has been seized, would be confiscated.
Bindi Yadav, accused in over a dozen criminal cases, was a terror in Magadh region and practically ran a parallel administration. His story of rags to riches is not very old. He was associated with RJD and also contested election. In 2011 he fielded his wife for the legislative Council election from Gaya local bodies constituency on RJD ticket and she won. This time, the seat went to the JD(U) following distribution of seats between RJD and JD(U) and she managed to get the ticket from JD(U) and won again only last year. However, their son’s misadventure put the entire family behind bars.