Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey's son arrested, sent to jail for Bihar clashes

In a post-midnight political drama, Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey's son Arijit Shashwat — accused of "inciting" communal clashes during a Ram Navami procession in Bhagalpur's Nathnagar on March 17 — surrendered in Patna around 1am on Sunday, hours after a Bhagalpur district court rejected his anticipatory bail petition.

The Patna Police have, however, claimed to have arrested Shashwat who has been sent to 14 days' judicial custody.

Shashwat reached the Mahavir mandir near Patna railway station after midnight, accompanied by over a dozen supporters, to court arrest. "I have been implicated in the case. I will furnish a video recording of the procession as evidence in the courts," he told media person gathered at the spot.

Shashwat added that the BJP was working towards uniting the society. "Our workers tried to maintain harmony. It is the RJD and the Congress that are trying to spread communal hatred," he said, adding he would approach the higher courts if need be.

A warrant was issued against Shashwat after he was named as an accused in communal clash that erupted during the course of a Ram Navami procession held without permission in Bhagalpur's Nathnagar on March 17.

More than 50 people, including policemen, were injured in clashes that ensued.

A team of Patna Police led by Additional Superintendent of Police Rakesh Dubey took Shashwat into custody.

The Opposition targeted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, calling him as "helpless" over Shashwat "evading" arrest after Union Minister Choubey termed the FIR as a "piece of garbage".

As the clashes spread to eight districts in the state, Kumar had said that no one would be spared and he would not tolerate communal conflicts "at any cost."

Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, had accused RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's fortnight visit to Bihar and "engineering and flaring up" the communal unrest in the state.

The JD(U) said communal harmony and law and order were the assets of the government while Congress MLA from Bhagalpur Ajit Sharma said Shashwat and his father Choubey have a history of triggering communal clashes in the area.