Patna: Expressing surprise at the hype being created in the political corridors over release from jail of the muscleman Anand Mohan, a convict in the murder of the then District Magistrate G Krishnaiah, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said those who had demanded his release were now against it.
While talking to newspersons here, Kumar dubbed the entire discussion and hype as irrelevant saying that he was surprised at the statements issued by some leaders. He said those who had demanded the release of Anand Mohan were now against it which was illogical.
Referring to the provisions in the jail manual 2016 of the centre, Kumar said there was no special provision in the said manual. He said the special provision in the manual has been now scrapped from Bihar too. He said there is no difference in the murder of a common man or a government officer.
The Chief Minister said that there is a provision to release the prisoners after 20 years including completion of actual 14 years of imprisonment.
He said since 2017, 698 prisoners have been released in Bihar and maintained that the centre too release prisoners on Republic Day and Independence Day. He further said that this time 27 prisoners along with Anand Mohan have been released from jail in Bihar.
Replying to a question regarding demands being made by CPIML to release prisoners lodged under TADA, the Chief Minister said that the Prisoners were released according to the law.
He further said that in the year 2020-21 nearly 280 prisoners were released in Assam, 338 in Chhattisgarh, 47 in Gujarat, 79 in Haryana, 50 in Himachal Pradesh, 298 in Jharkhand, 195 in Karnataka, 123 in Kerala, 692 ine Madhya Pradesh, 313 in Maharashtra, 203 in Odisha, 346 in Rajasthan, 139 in Telangana, 656 Uttar Pradesh, 280 in Delhi and 294 in union territories. According to him 105 Prisoners were released in Bihar in the year 2020 and 2021.
When asked about Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal spending Rs 45 crore on renovation of his bungalow, Nitish Kumar said that those who are strong in their jurisdiction were being criticised.
