Patna: In a highly controversial and unprecedented political event, Janata Dal (United) leader Anant Kumar Singh was sworn in as a Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Tuesday while still behind bars. Singh, a powerful and polarizing figure in Bihar politics, was escorted from Beur Central Jail to the Assembly in a prison vehicle under heavy security to take his oath of office.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the troubling overlap of political power and criminality in Bihar. Singh, who represents the Mokama Assembly constituency, has a long and controversial political history, being a culprit in 38 criminal cases, including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and arms-related charges. Despite his criminal record and ongoing incarceration, he secured electoral victory in the 2025 Assembly elections, underlining his entrenched influence in the region.
Singh’s presence at the Assembly was made possible through a special court-granted parole, strictly limited to the purpose of taking his legislative oath. He is currently in custody in connection with the October 2025 murder of Dular Chand Yadav, a supporter of a rival political faction. The courts permitted his temporary release only to comply with constitutional requirements. Following the oath-taking ceremony inside the Vidhan Sabha, Singh was immediately returned to Beur Jail under police escort.
After taking the oath, Singh touched the feet of Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, seeking blessings in a gesture that evoked traditional political mentor-mentee rituals. While party colleagues hailed it as a demonstration of loyalty and democratic procedure, opposition leaders criticized the optics, arguing that a legislator with such an extensive criminal record taking office in a prison vehicle reflects poorly on governance and the rule of law.
Singh’s election victory from Mokama was decisive, with a margin of over 28,000 votes despite his incarceration. His success, even while facing 38 criminal cases, highlights the influence of entrenched local political networks, caste dynamics, and fear-based loyalty in certain constituencies. Political analysts note that Singh’s career exemplifies the challenges Bihar faces in separating criminality from elected office.
Despite his oath, Singh remains under judicial scrutiny, and his custodial status continues. Legal experts emphasize that legislative membership does not grant immunity from criminal proceedings. The parole was strictly limited to the ceremonial swearing-in, ensuring that ongoing investigations and trials including the murder case proceed without interruption.
The extraordinary nature of Singh’s swearing-in has provoked strong reactions. While supporters defended it as a lawful and democratic exercise of rights, opposition parties and civil society groups decried the event as an alarming reflection of political patronage overriding law and order. Singh’s induction into the legislature amid a litany of serious criminal charges has sparked debates over the moral and legal responsibilities of political parties in endorsing candidates with violent backgrounds.
The episode, involving a jailed legislator taking oath under police escort, has intensified concerns about the intersection of criminality and electoral politics in Bihar, underlining the persistent tension between democratic representation and legal accountability.