Patna: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticised the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government over the arrest of Purnia MP Pappu Yadav, alleging that the move was politically motivated and aimed at silencing voices demanding accountability over the death of a NEET aspirant in Patna.
Yadav was arrested late on Friday night after police reached his Patna residence to execute a court order in an old case. Shortly after being taken into custody, his health reportedly deteriorated, following which he was admitted to hospital.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Gandhi said the arrest was an act of “political revenge” for Yadav’s vocal stance on the circumstances surrounding the student’s death. He accused the Bihar police of being used to intimidate those seeking justice.
पटना में NEET की आकांक्षी छात्रा की संदिग्ध परिस्थितियों में हुई मौत और उसके बाद की पूरी कार्रवाई ने एक बार फिर सिस्टम की गहरी सड़ांध को उजागर कर दिया है।
पीड़ित परिवार ने जब निष्पक्ष जाँच और न्याय की माँग की, तो वही पुराना भाजपा-NDA मॉडल सामने आ गया – केस को भटकाओ, परिजनों को…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 7, 2026
“The suspicious death of a NEET aspirant student in Patna and the subsequent actions have once again exposed the deep rot in the system,” Gandhi wrote. He alleged that when the victim’s family sought an impartial investigation, the ruling BJP-NDA alliance responded by diverting the case, harassing the family and shielding those responsible.
“Our fellow MP Pappu Yadav stood firmly as a voice for justice for this daughter,” Gandhi said. “His arrest today is clearly political revenge to intimidate and suppress every voice demanding accountability.”
Gandhi also warned that the incident reflected a broader and more disturbing pattern, suggesting that the government’s inaction pointed to systemic failure rather than an isolated case.
“This is not a matter of politics, but of justice,” he said. “It is a question of the honour and safety of Bihar’s daughters.”
