Controversy Surrounds Release of Gangster-Politician Anand Mohan, SC Seeks Explanation

New Delhi: In a recent development, the Supreme Court has directed the Bihar government to disclose the records regarding the early release of Anand Mohan, a notorious gangster-turned-politician who was imprisoned for his involvement in the murder of an IAS officer.

The release is being challenged by the wife of the deceased officer, G Krishnaiah, who was tragically lynched by a mob led by Anand Mohan back in 1994. Krishnaiah, originally from Telangana, was brutally beaten to death when his vehicle attempted to overtake the funeral procession of gangster Chhotan Shukla in Muzaffarpur district.

Uma Krishnaiah, represented by senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, has argued that the state government retrospectively altered its policy to facilitate Anand Mohan’s release in the case. Luthra has requested the court to compel the state to provide complete records of Anand Mohan’s criminal background and to schedule the matter for a hearing in August. During the previous hearing on May 8, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Central government and the Bihar government regarding Anand Mohan’s early release.

Anand Mohan was released from Saharsa jail on April 27 after an amendment was made to Bihar’s prison rules. He was among a group of more than 20 prisoners who were granted freedom based on a notification from the state’s law department, as they had already served over 14 years in prison. The remission of his sentence followed an amendment to the Bihar Prison Manual on April 10 by the Nitish Kumar government, which eliminated the restriction on early release for individuals involved in the killing of a public servant while on duty.

Critics of the state government’s decision allege that the amendment to the prison rules was specifically made to facilitate the release of Anand Mohan, a powerful Rajput figure, to strengthen the grand alliance led by Nitish Kumar in its battle against the BJP. Several other politicians and individuals have also benefited from the amendment to the state’s prison rules.