Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey’s son Arjit Shashwat Choubey was sent to 14-day judicial custody on Sunday and lodged in Bhagalpur Central jail after his mid-night arrest near Mahabir Mandir at Patna Junction. He was taken to Bhagalpur and produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate at his residence.
There were counter claims whether Arjit was arrested by police or he had surrendered. The video footage of the midnight action showed he was near the temple with some of his supporters chanting slogans of Jai Sri Ram and Bharat Mata ki jai.
Additional Director General of Police (headquarter) SK Singhal said Arjit has been arrested. “His movements were under surveillance and his calls were also tracked,” he added. Patna SSP Manu Maharaaj said police were keeping a close vigil on his movements. Bhagalpur police was also camping here, he added.
Bhagalpur SP Manoj Kumar said he got a tip-off that Arjit was about to move towards the Mahabir Mandir around 11.30 pm and he was arrested with the help of Patna police near the roundabout outside Patna junction.
After arrest, he was taken to Gandhi Maidan police station by ASP Rakesh Dubey and then proceeded to Bhagalpur in a black SUV with tinted glass. There he was produced before the ACJM at his residence because of Sunday. The ACJM forwarded him to 14-day judicial custody.
Arjit, an MBA from New South Wales, Australia, became most wanted after an FIR and warrant of arrest against him for communally provocative procession and slogan shouting in Bhagalpur on March 17 that caused communal clashes. He had contested Assembly election 2015 from Bhagalpur on BJP ticket unsuccessfully and was defeated by Ajit Sharma of the Congress.
The alleged police inaction in arresting Arjit became talk of the town due to his political connections and it even shadowed the relations between the ruling BJP-JD(U) allies. Many BJP leaders came in support of Arjit and administration feared that his arrest in the surcharged atmosphere would make him a hero and might lead to more tension.
Union MoS Chaubey, who had earlier called the FIR a piece of ‘raddi,’ said on Sunday Arjit surrendered showing his respect to the law but defended him for raising slogans saying it was not a crime. Making appeal for communal harmony, the JP movement activist said he took lead in protecting Muslims during earlier riots and Muslims respected him so much that the Tazia is brought to his home first before starting procession. Talking to reporters in Delhi, he blamed Bhagalpur administration and local Congress MlA Sharma for hatching conspiracy against Arjit.
Claiming victory of the rule of law, JD(U) general secretary Neeraj Kumar said Arjit’s arrest has silenced the Opposition who were attacking the Government. He said, “The Additional Public Prosecutor pleaded before the ACJM that he was guilty of fanning communal hatred by raising objectionable slogans. All the evidences were in the possession of the police, he said.