Pappu Yadav granted bail in a 3-decade-old forgery case, to remain in custody in another case
Patna (PTI): The MP/MLA court here on Tuesday granted bail to independent MP Pappu Yadav in a three-decade-old forgery case.
Yadav was arrested on Friday evening at his residence by Patna Police after a warrant was issued against him by the court in connection with a 1995 case lodged under Section 467 (forgery of documents) of the IPC. He was admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) due to illness the next morning.
Advocate Shivnandan Bharti, who appeared for the MP, told reporters: "Pappu Yadav has been granted bail in the 1995 case. However, he will remain in custody, as another case was filed on the same day at the Buddha Colony police station for allegedly obstructing police work."
He claimed that the police "conspired" to file a case accusing him of obstructing their work while he had "offered himself for arrest after seeing the warrant".
The advocate said that the MP himself raised certain questions before the court during the hearing.
An ACJM court on Saturday ordered that Pappu Yadav be kept at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) under judicial custody for two days before the hearing for bail application, originally scheduled for Monday.
However, his bail plea could not be taken up on Monday as judicial work in the court was suspended following a bomb threat.
"Pappu Yadav highlighted that although the court had ordered to keep him in PMCH till the hearing scheduled on Monday, he was discharged and sent to jail on Sunday without proper treatment," Bharti said.
He also claimed that the MP was kept in the general ward on a stretcher initially as no beds were available, and that no "food arrangements were made at night."
Bharti added, "Pappu Yadav ji broke into tears during court proceedings, not because he had to face difficulties there at the hospital, but because he saw that not a single person was getting proper treatment (at the hospital)."
People were living in extreme scarcity of services and a state of chaos at PMCH, he claimed.
The lawyer also charged officials with misbehaving with his client.
The advocate claimed that the court took the matter seriously and said that action will be taken against the officials concerned.
Bharti said that the hearing in the case in which Pappu Yadav is accused of obstructing the police will take place on Wednesday.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
