Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of Opposition in Bihar, on Friday demanded that the state police initiate legal action against Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary for allegedly disclosing the identity of a minor victim in the Jamui case. The demand followed a social media post from the Chief Minister's account that included a photograph of the victim, taken during a meeting at his official residence in Patna on Thursday, where Choudhary had assured the family of speedy justice. The post was later deleted, but screenshots circulated widely. Yadav argued that sharing the image violated the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and that the same legal standards should apply to the Chief Minister as to any other citizen. He pointed to the police's own action against approximately 120 social media accounts for disseminating material that could identify the minor. Whether the deleted post itself constitutes an offence under the POCSO Act would ultimately depend on a determination by competent authorities or a court.
The underlying incident occurred on September 19, when a minor boy and girl traveling on a two‑wheeler were intercepted by a group of youths near the Jamui‑Lakhisarai road. A video of the assault subsequently surfaced, prompting the police to register a case under the POCSO Act and other relevant provisions. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to identify and arrest those involved. Eight accused have been arrested so far. Police reported that one accused, Nandan Yadav, was injured in an encounter on September 22, while another, Hareram Yadav, was also reported injured. The investigation also examines the circulation of the assault video.
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Yadav also responded to Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party‑Ram Vilas chief Chirag Paswan's condemnation of the Jamui molestation, dismissing his remarks. Separately, the RJD leader reiterated his demand for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, stating that the party's agitation would continue until its demands were met and calling for the CEC to publicly clarify questions about the poll panel's functioning. The RJD has indicated that if the police do not act on the photograph complaint, it may approach the court, potentially making the Bihar Police a party to the proceedings.
