Patna: The MP-MLA Court in Bihar’s Gopalganj on Monday granted interim relief to JD(U) MLA, Anant Singh, in connection with the viral video case involving the alleged brandishing of weapons and obscene dancing at a private event in Gopalganj.
Following the hearing, the court stayed the arrest of the JD(U) MLA and reserved its verdict in the matter.
The next hearing has been scheduled for May 30.
According to court proceedings, a total of nine individuals, including Anant Singh, have been named as accused in the case.
However, the court has currently provided relief only to the Mokama legislator, while no interim protection has been granted to the remaining accused persons.
A strong legal team appeared on behalf of Anant Singh during the hearing.
Senior advocate Kumar Harshvardhan and senior Gopalganj Civil Court advocate Rajesh Kumar Pathak argued the case for the defense.
The lawyers contended before the court that there was no immediate need for coercive action against the MLA.
During arguments, Kumar Harshvardhan claimed that the viral footage was an edited video and alleged that his client had been falsely implicated in a fabricated case.
Following submissions from both sides, the presiding judge reserved the order and directed a stay on Anant Singh’s arrest.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Rajesh Kumar Pathak confirmed that the next hearing would take place on May 30.
He also stated that an application had been filed seeking the invocation of Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in the case, though the court has not yet accepted the application.
The case stems from an incident reported on May 3, when Anant Singh had attended a private function in Semrao village under the jurisdiction of Mirganj Police Station.
A video from the event later went viral on social media, allegedly showing several individuals brandishing weapons and engaging in obscene dancing.
Responding to the controversy earlier, Anant Singh had clarified that he was unaware of anything that may have happened after he left the venue and maintained that no such activities took place while he was present at the event.
(IANS)
