Bihar – Page 9 – SD NEWS agency

Sadanand Singh: The Congress Stalwart Who Dominated Bihar Politics and Took on Lalu–Nitish with Sheer Political Might

19Dec

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Bihar, Politics, State

Sadanand Singh: The Congress Stalwart Who Dominated Bihar Politics and Took on Lalu–Nitish with Sheer Political Might

Patna:Fearless, sharp-minded, and always politically alert—Sadanand Singh was not just a leader, but an era in Bihar politics. A senior Congress stalwart and ten-time Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Singh was known for his commanding presence, strategic acumen, and unwavering loyalty to the Congress party. His demise in 2022 marked the end of a powerful political chapter in Bihar. Despite leading a weakened Congress for long periods, Sadanand Singh repeatedly demonstrated that political strength is not merely about numbers, but about will and wisdom. From challenging Lalu Prasad Yadav’s dominance to giving Nitish Kumar unexpected political jolts, Singh proved time and again that he was a master strategist. A Record-Breaking Legislator Sadanand Singh contested elect...

Over 3.65 Lakh Land Mutation Applications Rejected in Patna, Raiyats in Distress; Proper Documentation Key to Claim Approval

19Dec

By sd newsNo Comments

Bihar, State

Over 3.65 Lakh Land Mutation Applications Rejected in Patna, Raiyats in Distress; Proper Documentation Key to Claim Approval

A massive number of land mutation (Dakhil-Kharij) applications have been rejected in Patna district, causing widespread concern among raiyats (landholders). According to official data, out of 10.16 lakh online applications submitted so far, more than 3.65 lakh applications—nearly 36 percent—have been rejected, primarily due to incomplete documentation and lack of coordination at the circle (Anchal) office level. Officials report that 6.33 lakh applications have been accepted for disposal, while 17,025 applications (1.67 percent) are still pending. The high rejection rate has left thousands of landowners struggling to get their ownership records updated, an essential requirement for sale, inheritance, loans, and government schemes. Documentation Gaps Major Cause Revenue experts and...

Historic Patna High Court Ruling on POCSO Act: Consent-Based Relationship and Age Determination Get Clear Judicial Direction

19Dec

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Bihar, State

Historic Patna High Court Ruling on POCSO Act: Consent-Based Relationship and Age Determination Get Clear Judicial Direction

In a landmark judgment with far-reaching implications for cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Patna High Court has overturned the conviction of Pawan Kumar Mandal and ordered his immediate release from jail. The Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Dr. Anshuman set aside the lower court’s verdict, laying down crucial guidelines on age determination and the misuse of POCSO provisions in consent-based relationships. The High Court strongly observed that medical examination alone cannot be treated as a conclusive or exclusive basis for determining age, as medical science itself allows a margin of error of one to two years. Relying solely on such approximate assessments, the Court held, is unjust and poses a serious threat to...

Bihar: Lives Crushed Under Debt Trap, Illegal Microfinance ‘Gunda Banks’ Terrorise Villages

19Dec

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Bihar, State

Bihar: Lives Crushed Under Debt Trap, Illegal Microfinance ‘Gunda Banks’ Terrorise Villages

In Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, poverty-stricken families are being pushed into a deadly debt trap as illegal microfinance companies—locally dubbed “Gunda Banks”—continue to operate unchecked, exploiting the weakest sections of society. Charging exorbitant interest rates and using intimidation tactics, these unregulated lenders have turned entire villages into zones of fear, with a disturbing rise in suicides linked to loan recovery harassment. Despite the presence of only 22 registered microfinance companies in the district, dozens of illegal entities are functioning openly, exposing serious administrative lapses. These lenders, masquerading as legitimate microfinance institutions, reportedly charge up to 30 percent interest and deploy criminally inclined recovery agents to coerce rep...

Political Storm in Bihar After Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Alleged Remarks on Election “Management”

19Dec

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Bihar, Politics, State

Political Storm in Bihar After Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Alleged Remarks on Election “Management”

A major political controversy has erupted in Bihar after a video surfaced allegedly showing Union Minister and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi claiming that he had helped a candidate win an election through “understanding” with the District Magistrate. The remarks, reportedly made in Magahi during a public programme in Gaya district, have reignited allegations of vote manipulation and administrative interference in elections. According to the viral video, Manjhi is heard saying that in the 2020 Assembly elections, a candidate who was trailing by nearly 2,700 votes was made victorious after he intervened and coordinated with the district administration. He further allegedly stated that in the 2025 election, the same candidate lost by just 1,600 votes and could have been made to wi...

Hijab Controversy: Jitan Ram Manjhi Defends Nitish Kumar, Calls Incident ‘Accidental’

18Dec

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Bihar, State

Hijab Controversy: Jitan Ram Manjhi Defends Nitish Kumar, Calls Incident ‘Accidental’

Amid the ongoing controversy in Bihar over Chief Minister Nitish Kumar allegedly removing a Muslim woman’s hijab, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has come to his defense, calling the incident unintentional and warning against linking it to religion. The incident, which occurred in the political corridors of Bihar, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. However, Manjhi, the patron of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), asserted that the Chief Minister’s actions were never meant to hurt religious sentiments or disrespect anyone. He described the event as “accidental” and urged both the public and opposition parties to view it from a humanitarian perspective rather than a religious lens. Manjhi: No Intent to Insult Speaking to the media, Manjhi suggested that Nitish Kumar m...

Bihar: Major Theft at Renowned Thawe Durga Temple in Gopalganj, Gold Crown and Silver Canopy Stolen

18Dec

By sd newsNo Comments

Bihar, State

Bihar: Major Theft at Renowned Thawe Durga Temple in Gopalganj, Gold Crown and Silver Canopy Stolen

In a shocking incident that has sent waves of anger and concern among devotees, a major theft has been reported at the famous Thawe Durga Temple in Gopalganj district of Bihar. Unknown miscreants allegedly broke into the temple late on Wednesday night and decamped with the sacred gold crown of the deity, a silver canopy, and gold ornaments worth several lakhs of rupees. According to police officials, two masked thieves scaled the boundary wall of the temple premises around 11:30 pm amid dense fog and near-zero visibility. Using a gas cutter, they broke open the lock of the sanctum sanctorum and carried out the theft within minutes before fleeing the scene by jumping back over the wall. Police Investigation Underway Gopalganj Superintendent of Police Avadhesh Kumar Dixit reached th...

Validity of Appointments of 69,649 Bihar Teachers Under Scrutiny Amid Missing Files

18Dec

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Bihar, State

Validity of Appointments of 69,649 Bihar Teachers Under Scrutiny Amid Missing Files

Sitamarhi, Bihar: The appointments of nearly 70,000 teachers recruited in Bihar between 2006 and 2015 are now under scrutiny as the monitoring department reports that crucial personnel files are missing. The absence of these records has raised doubts over the legitimacy of their appointments, with authorities stating that the positions of teachers whose files cannot be located cannot be considered valid until verification is complete. High Court-Ordered InvestigationFollowing a directive from the Patna High Court, the Bihar Monitoring Department has been conducting a statewide investigation into teacher appointments. Hundreds of fraudulent teachers have already been identified, FIRs filed, and dismissals carried out. However, records for 69,649 teachers are still unavailable, preventing...

Bihar Panchayat Elections 2026: State Election Commission Confirms Fresh Reservation of Seats

18Dec

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Bihar, State

Bihar Panchayat Elections 2026: State Election Commission Confirms Fresh Reservation of Seats

Ahead of the 2026 three-tier Panchayat elections in Bihar, the State Election Commission (SEC) has clarified confusion circulating on social media regarding the reservation of seats. The commission confirmed that reservations for Panchayat positions will be freshly determined for the upcoming elections, dispelling rumors about the continuation of previous allocations. Clarifying the Confusion The joint Election Commissioner of Bihar stated that misinformation about the Panchayat elections, including the mode of voting—whether by ballot paper or EVM—and the reservation of Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad positions, has been widely circulated. To address this, the SEC issued an official statement confirming that reservations for all posts will be finalized anew. E...

Junior Engineer in Bihar Amasses Over ₹1 Crore and a Licensed 9MM Pistol, Exposed by Sister

18Dec

By sd newsNo Comments

Bihar, State

Junior Engineer in Bihar Amasses Over ₹1 Crore and a Licensed 9MM Pistol, Exposed by Sister

Patna, December 18, 2025: In a startling revelation from Bihar, a junior engineer has been caught with assets far exceeding his official income, including a licensed 9MM pistol and property worth over ₹1 crore. The whistleblower in the case was none other than the engineer’s own sister. Vigilance Raids Uncover Massive Assets On December 17, the Vigilance Department conducted raids at multiple locations linked to Mohammad Ansarul Haq, a Junior Engineer in the Planning and Development Department of Darbhanga district. The raids uncovered significant evidence of disproportionate wealth. Investigators found 12 property sale deeds across different plots, 20 bank accounts, and numerous investment documents. Additionally, Haq owned a mini truck and an SUV. According to preliminary calcul...