Bihar Minister says RJD leader was involved in son’s kidnapping in 2007

Minister Santosh Kumar Singh said that his son had been kidnapped in 2007 and an influential Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader had met him subsequently with a ransom demand. File

Minister Santosh Kumar Singh on Thursday (March 20, 2025) made a shocking revelation in the Bihar Legislative Council that his son had been kidnapped in 2007 and an influential Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader had met him subsequently with a ransom demand.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said that it was Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who had helped bring his son back to safety.

The Labour Resources Department Minister asserted that RJD had no moral right to raise a finger on law-and-order issues in Bihar as their leaders were already involved in kidnapping.

The revelation was prompted by the Opposition criticising the State government over law and order issues, citing examples of murder and rape cases in Bihar.

“They have no moral right to speak on crime and law and order issues. In 2007, my son was kidnapped. One big RJD leader had contacted me demanding ransom. Thanks to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ji whose intervention saved my child and he returned safely. They should be ashamed of raising the issue of crime,” Mr. Singh said.

In response, Leader of Opposition in the Council Rabri Devi blamed the ruling parties for kidnappings in Bihar. Pointing at Janata Dal-(United) leader, Minister Ashok Choudhary, she said, “You had kidnapped and demanded ransom. You were earlier in Congress and you looted Congress as well, your father also looted money.”

Mr. Choudhary noted that Mr. Singh had said on record that it was an RJD leader who had met him for a ransom. “In the RJD’s regime, the businessmen and traders ran away from Bihar out of fear. Only massacres used to take place in your regime,” he said.

The statements led to a heated argument between Chief Minister Kumar and Ms. Devi. While Mr. Kumar attacked the RJD, Ms. Devi continued to blame Mr. Choudhary for kidnappings and ransom.

Eventually, the furious Chief Minister said, “Listen to me, you all sit. If someone has been murdered, our government will investigate it.”

Pointing to Ms. Devi, he further said, “It was her husband’s government but later she was made to sit on the CM’s chair. You people did not do anything for anyone. Sit down, why are you creating a ruckus? Did you do even one thing till now? There used to be so many fights between Hindus and Muslims. These people used to instigate. We have done all the work so there is no point creating ruckus. You people just want to do your own publicity.”