Dayashankar held in Bihar

Dayashankar was hiding at a relative’s house in Bihar, brought to UP

Lucknow: Expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh was arrested by the UP STF in a joint operation with the Bihar police on Friday. Mr Singh was absconding since July 21 when a video clip of him making derogatory remarks against BSP president Mayawati went viral.

In a joint operation, Uttar Pradesh STF and Bihar police on Friday arrested expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh from a relative’s house in Buxar.

The police, who had been tracking Mr Singh’s movements, intercepted his phone calls from the Chinni ( Sugar) Mill locality of Buxar, which shares its borders with Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh ADG ( law and order) Daljit Chaudhary told reporters that the UP STF had been tracking Mr Singh’s movement through a mobile phone being used by one of his close friends.

He was brought to Mau district later in the evening. DIG Dharamvir said that the case against the former BJP leader will be investigated in Mau since he had given the derogatory statement in this district.

Mr Singh had been absconding since June 20 after UP police registered an FIR against him for allegedly using abusive language against former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP chief Ms Mayawati.

Recently Mr Singh had been spotted offering prayers at a temple in Deoghar, Jharkhand, and his picture was posted on social media. However, he left the state before the police could arrest him.

His statement had stoked controversy which led to his expulsion from the BJP. Derogatory terms used by him against Ms Mayawati had led to huge protests against him in Uttar Pradesh and the matter was even raised in Parliament.

BSP leaders had lodged a case against him under the SC/ ST Act.

On Thursday the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court had rejected Mr Singh’s plea to put his arrest on hold.

Officials said, “Daya Shankar Singh is being taken to Lucknow where he will be presented before the court on Saturday.”

Mr Singh hails from Balia in Uttar Pradesh but has many relatives in Buxar, said sources.