Bihar: Tejashwi Yadav granted bail in COVID-period case ​

PATNA: Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, was granted bail on Thursday in a six-year-old case dating back to the COVID-19 period.​

He appeared before the MP/MLA Court in Patna and surrendered before the court of Praveen Kumar Malviya, following which his bail plea was accepted.​

The case pertains to protests and sit-ins organised during the COVID-19 pandemic.​

According to Tejashwi Yadav, the FIR was registered by the administration in a forced manner in response to demonstrations he led to highlight public grievances during the crisis.​

Speaking to the media after securing bail, he said, “During the COVID period, a case was forcibly registered against me by the administration. As a public representative, I organised protests to raise issues affecting the public.”​

Tejashwi Yadav recalled the hardships faced by migrant workers during the pandemic, when thousands were forced to walk back to their homes due to a lack of transport facilities.​

He alleged that the government did not make adequate arrangements at the time.​

He stated that the Opposition had a responsibility to raise these concerns and ensure that the voices of affected people reached the government.​

Targeting the administration, the RJD leader said that taking action against leaders for raising public issues goes against democratic principles.​