Patna: JD(U) MLA Amarendra Kumar Pandey alias Pappu Pandey from the Kuchaikote assembly constituency in Gopalganj received interim relief in a high-profile land fraud case on Thursday after a local court extended the stay on his arrest till May 19. The anticipatory bail pleas of the MLA and his chartered accountant Rahul Tiwari were heard for more than three-and-a-half hours in the civil court.The case relates to alleged forgery and illegal possession of nearly 16 acres of land in Belwa village under Kuchaikote police station limits. The complaint was lodged by a resident of Semraon village, who alleged that the MLA, his brother Satish Pandey and others conspired to grab land belonging to a Muzaffarpur resident. Police named seven accused, including the MLA, Satish Pandey and Rahul Tiwari.ADJ-3 heard the anticipatory bail petitions and fixed May 19 for the next hearing. While the court extended interim protection from arrest for the MLA and Rahul Tiwari, no relief was granted to Satish Pandey, against whom a proclamation notice has already been issued.Appearing for Rahul Tiwari, advocate Aarish Dikshit said, “We appeared for Rahul Tiwari. We told the court that nothing in the entire investigation or case diary proves he was involved. There is no material against him. The court heard it in detail and set May 19 for order.”Senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra alleged, “Police are committing excesses against those made accused in this case.”
