Former RJD minister stabbed inside his flat in Patna

A former minister was stabbed by an armed youth at his residence in Patna.

Ejaj-ul-Haque, who was a minister during the Rashtriya Janata Dal regime between 1990 and 2005, was admitted to a private hospital on Bailey road after he was found bleeding profusely inside his flat in the Shastri Nagar police station area on Friday night.

Haque, who happens to be the brother-in-law of the RJD's former bahubali (strongman) MP Mohammed Shahabuddin - told the police that unidentified persons had stabbed him and escaped with his Scorpio vehicle and licensed revolver.

Acting swiftly, the Patna police arrested an accused named Raghvendra Singh from Keshavpur village under Barhara police station in Bhojpur district where he had taken shelter after commiting the crime. He was traced on the basis of his cell phone location.

The former minister's licensed revolver, 30 cartridges, a knife and Rs 30,000 in cash were also recovered from his vehicle.

Patna SSP Vikas Vaibhav said that the police had recorded the statement of the ex-minister after the incident. "He said that unidentified persons had entered his flat with an intention to loot and stabbed him before escaping with with his Scorpio vehicle and licensed revolver," he said.

During investigation, the police found out that the accused had called up the security guard of the apartment before escapting from the scene. "He was subsequently arrested on Saturday morning with the help of Bhojpur police," he said.

The SSP said that the accused, during interrogation, had alleged that the former minister had made a bid to sodomise him which led to a scuffle during which he stabbed the former minister. "The police are investigating the matter," he said. "A forensic science laboratory (FSL) team has also been sent to the minister's house to collect evidence," he said.

Police said that Haque, who lived at the Royal Court Apartment on Ashiana-Digha road, and the accused were known to each other.