New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that the arrest of Purnia MP Pappu Yadav was driven by “political vendetta” and was intended to silence those seeking justice in the death of a NEET aspirant at a Patna hostel.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said Pappu Yadav had been standing firmly with the victim’s family and demanding accountability when he was taken into custody.
“His arrest is clearly an act of political vendetta, aimed at intimidating and silencing every voice that demands accountability,” Gandhi said.
Notably, Pappu Yadav was arrested on Friday after he failed to appear before authorities in connection with a land dispute case dating back to 1995. Ahead of his arrest, the MP had expressed apprehensions about his safety, claiming that there were attempts on his life.
“I fear these people may kill me. I will go directly to the court and not to the police station. If they wish, they can place me under house arrest,” he had said.
Accusing the BJP-led NDA government in Bihar of attempting to derail the investigation, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the victim’s family was being harassed to shield those responsible for the student’s death. He said the developments following the incident exposed a “deeply flawed system.”
“When the family sought a fair probe and justice, the familiar BJP-NDA playbook was deployed—derail the case, harass the family, and protect the culprits using state power,” he claimed.
The Congress leader further expressed concern over the rising number of crimes against women, stressing that the issue went beyond politics.
“This points to a disturbing pattern, where more daughters are becoming victims while those in power remain indifferent to this horrifying reality,” he said, adding that it was fundamentally a question of justice and safety.
Congress general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also reacted strongly, expressing “utter shock” over the case. In a post on X, she questioned the manner in which the case was handled, alleging that everything—from the registration of the FIR to the investigation and subsequent action—had been rendered suspicious.
“Who is all this being done to protect?” she asked.
Condemning the arrest of Pappu Yadav, Priyanka Gandhi said BJP-ruled governments have repeatedly stood with the accused in cases involving crimes against women rather than ensuring justice for victims.
“From Hathras and Unnao to Ankita Bhandari and Patna, the arrest of MP Pappu Yadav for raising his voice is another example of this continuing insensitivity,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Bihar government has recommended a CBI inquiry into the death of the NEET aspirant after the victim’s family raised concerns over the investigation and alleged administrative involvement. Police said the student died while undergoing treatment in Patna. While there were initial reports of sexual assault, doctors have not confirmed sexual or penetrative assault in their medical examination.
As the probe continues, Patna Police have suspended two officers in connection with the case.
