Sleuths of the Special Task Force (STF) finally dropped the net on sacked BJP leader Dayashankar Singh in Buzar distreict of Bihar on Friday morning. Singh has been on the run after an FIR was filed against him for making unsavoury remarks against BSP chief Mayawati.
Singh's arrest came a day after the Allahabad High Court refused to stay his arrest as urged by Singh in a plea and directed the UP government to file its reply by August 5.
"A STF team lead by Additional SP, S Anand arrested Dayashankar Singh from Buxar,” confirmed ADG (law and order) Daljeet Chowdhary in lucknow on Friday afternoon. He said that Singh has been changing locations and various SIM cards to thwart tracking his movements.
The STF tracked his whereabouts through a mobile number of his friend accompanying him. A photograph of Singh at Vaidyanath Dham temple of Deoghar (Jharkhand) had gone viral on the social media and also in newspapers, triggering angry reactions from Mayawati against the BJP which is in power in Jharkhand.
After his arrest, Singh was brought to Mau and is likely to be produced before a remand magistrate later in the night. Circle Officer of Hazratganj left for Mau along with relevant papers on Friday afternoon so that the probe could now be handed over to Mau police.
On July 22, an FIR was registered against Singh at Hazratganj police station against a complaint filed by BSP leader Mewalal Gautam who alleged that Singh's remarks hurt the feelings of BSP workers and the Dalit community.
The former state BJP vice-president's remarks had stoked a major controversy and led to his expulsion from the party.
However, after angry BSP workers protested and used profane langauge againstSingh's wife and minor daughter, the BJP initiated a protest in this connection with the slogan 'Beti ke samman mein, BJP maidan mein'."
The party also threw its weight behind Singh's wife Swati Singh and demanded action against BSP leaders for making the derogatory remarks.