New Delhi/Patna: The Supreme Court on Friday directed Mokama MLA Anant Singh to surrender by December 1 in connection with the murder of Dularchand Yadav during the 2025 Bihar Assembly election campaign. The court also directed the Bihar government to complete the investigation within four months.
The direction came during a hearing on a petition seeking cancellation of Singh’s bail in the case. A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale passed the order.
During the hearing, counsel appearing for Singh informed the court that a wedding was scheduled in his family on November 25. Taking note of the submission, the bench directed him to surrender and return to jail by December 1.
Singh had been granted bail by the Patna High Court in March 2026 after spending several months in custody. The Supreme Court has directed that the investigation be completed within four months, after which the matter will be taken up for the next hearing.
Dularchand Yadav murder during election campaign
The case relates to the death of Dularchand Yadav during the 2025 Bihar Assembly election campaign in Mokama.
Anant Singh was contesting the Assembly election from Mokama on a JD(U) ticket, while Dularchand Yadav was campaigning for Piyush Priyadarshi, the Jan Suraaj candidate.
On October 30, 2025, the election campaign convoys of the two sides came face-to-face, triggering violence. Dularchand Yadav died in the incident.
Singh was arrested in connection with the murder and remained in custody during the election. Despite being in jail, he won the Mokama Assembly seat.
He was subsequently released in March 2026 after the Patna High Court granted him bail.
JD(U) expels Anant Singh for six years
The Supreme Court development comes days after the JD(U) expelled Singh from the party for six years.
On October 24, JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha issued an order cancelling Singh’s primary membership with immediate effect. The party accused him of repeatedly acting against its interests, making derogatory remarks about senior leaders and campaigning against its candidate during the Bihar Legislative Council elections.
Singh had campaigned in support of a Jan Suraaj candidate during the MLC elections, despite being associated with the JD(U).
The party also expelled his wife, former MLA Neelam Devi. Kushwaha recommended to the Bihar Assembly Speaker that Singh’s legislative membership be cancelled.
Government residence notice issued to Neelam Devi
Following the party’s action, the Bihar government’s Building Construction Department issued a notice to Neelam Devi asking her to vacate the government residence at 1, Mall Road, Patna, by November 25, 2026.
Earlier, Neelam Devi was removed from her position as a member of the 20-Point Committee (20-Sootri Samiti). The Minister of State status previously accorded to her was also withdrawn.
Former Congress MLA Neetu Singh subsequently visited Anant Singh’s residence to meet him.
The Supreme Court’s latest direction now requires Singh to surrender by December 1, while the state government has been given four months to complete the investigation into the Dularchand Yadav murder case.
