Patna: Patna police have submitted a detailed investigation report to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), alleging that RJD leader and former Danapur MLA Ritlal Yadav has been operating an organised criminal syndicate in his constituency, amassing wealth worth crores through illegal means. The report accuses Yadav and his associates of land grabbing, extortion, and coercion.
The ED is expected to file a case against Yadav following the submission of the police report. A separate charge sheet has also been filed against him and other members of his gang.
The investigation revealed that Yadav and his aides had encroached upon government land and carried out unauthorised construction. The findings came to light during a probe initiated at Khagaul police station into allegations that Yadav was running a criminal gang.
Encroachment of Government Land
Police investigations, which included examination of property records obtained from the Circle Officer’s office, found that Yadav’s gang had forcibly occupied three acres of non-cultivated government land in Kotwan Mouza, enclosing it with a boundary wall measuring around 4,000 square feet. Local landowners, reportedly intimidated by Yadav, have avoided filing complaints.
Yadav is also alleged to have constructed a public space, Ramashish Chowk, in Kotwan in memory of his late father, on encroached public land.
Syndicate Activities and Extortion
According to the report, Yadav operates a syndicate with associates including Tinku, Vinod, Shravan, Chiku, Mantu, Sunil, and Sunny, among others. The group allegedly extorts money from landowners and builders in the Danapur constituency through threats of violence.
Several gang members, including Yadav and his brother Pinku, are currently in jail for demanding Rs 50 lakh from builder Kumar Gaurav, threatening him with death if he did not comply. The case, registered at Khagaul police station on April 10, exposed the organised nature of Yadav’s criminal operations.
Illegal Construction and Commercial Exploitation
The investigation also highlighted the gang’s construction of 16 shops on 76 decimals of land in Mustafapur Mouza, situated between Surya Vihar Apartments and the Devlok Temple. These shops were rented out, with gang members Sintu and Sunny (alias Rohit) reportedly collecting monthly rents. Following police intervention, the district administration reclaimed the encroached land on May 15.
The report paints a picture of an organised criminal enterprise that leverages intimidation and illegal land acquisitions to generate substantial revenue, raising concerns over the influence of political figures in local criminal networks.
