'I’m being targeted, there’s threat to my life': RJD MLA Ritlal Yadav surrenders before Danapur court, sent to 14-day judicial custody

NEW DELHI: RJD MLA and close aide of the Lalu Prasad family, Ritlal Yadav, surrendered before the Danapur court on Thursday, days after coordinated raids by Bihar Police and the state’s Special Task Force (STF) in connection with an extortion case.
Yadav, who represents the Danapur constituency, has been sent to 14 days of judicial custody.
Moments before surrendering, Yadav alleged a conspiracy to kill him. “Attempts to kill me have been ongoing for several months. An AK-47 was made available to my rival by some officials. He was asked to shoot me and told no case would be registered,” Yadav told reporters. He claimed his life remains under threat while being taken to and from jail.
“I will file a bail petition only when I am confident I can save my life,” he added, accusing officials of colluding with a Patna-based builder to eliminate him during the raid at his residence.
The FIR, lodged at Khagaul police station, was based on a complaint by a local builder who alleged that Yadav and his associates had been threatening him for money and forging documents related to a property. The complainant claimed he had been receiving extortion and death threat calls for several days.
Following this, Bihar Police and STF teams launched a major crackdown on April 10, conducting searches at 11 premises linked to Yadav, including his residences in Kothwa and Abhiyanta Nagar, his office in Naubatpur, and other properties in Bihta and Danapur. More than 500 police personnel were deployed.
Danapur ASP Bhanu Pratap Singh said police seized Rs 10.5 lakh in cash, a blank cheque worth Rs 77.5 lakh, six suspicious blank cheques, 14 deeds and agreements, 17 cheque books, stamp papers, pen drives, land-related documents, and a walkie-talkie. Arms detectors were used during searches at Yadav’s Kothwa residence, though no weapons were found.
City SP (West) Sarath R S said, “Six to seven people had filed complaints, based on which an FIR was registered. Raids were carried out as per legal procedure and court orders.”
Police officials said the builder’s identity is being withheld due to security concerns.
Yadav claimed police action intensified after he hired private bodyguards amid threat alerts. “I increased my security. When police objected to my guards, I still kept them. Later, I removed them when I heard I’d be arrested. Since then, outsiders began frequenting my village. Everyone was living in fear,” he said.
Yadav accused the administration of joining hands with the builder to raid his house and alleged the real motive was to kill him. “The biggest threat to my life is between appearing in court and going to jail,” he said.