Jailed MLA makes ‘beauty stop’ on way back from court

In an embarrassment to the Bihar government, a former MLA, lodged in Beur jail, was caught on camera roaming outside the jail premises today.

In an embarrassment to the Bihar government, a former MLA, lodged in Beur jail, was caught on camera roaming outside the jail premises today.

Rajen Tiwary, of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), is known for his criminal past. He was, however, defeated in the last Assembly polls and has several criminal cases pending against him including the murder of former CPI(M) MLA Ajit Sarkar.

This afternoon, while the media lined up outside the high security Beur Central jail on the outskirts of Patna to cover the release of flood scam accused former Patna DM Gautam Goswami, the television cameras turned their focus on Rajen Tiwary coming out of a beauty parlour near the prison. Tiwary, clad in a pair of jeans and T-shirt, came out of the parlour and walked towards the jail and was visibly unperturbed about everything was being recorded. Even the policemen escorting him did not show any obvious concern over being caught on camera. Behind Tiwary, a child walked with a carton of mineral water which went inside for Tiwary.

The images sent the government into a tizzy. Home Commissioner Afzal Amanullah said all five police constables escorting Tiwary had been suspended. “They can even be dismissed if allegations against them are found to be true,” Amanullah said. He added that Tiwary had been taken to the court for an appearance and on his way back he had visited the parlour.