Prashant Kishor granted bail by Patna Civil Court after arrest in BPSC protest

Prashant Kishor, the founder of Jan Suraj Party (JSP), was granted bail on Monday following his arrest during a hunger strike at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan. Kishor had been on a hunger strike since January 2, supporting candidates protesting against irregularities in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam, particularly allegations of a question paper leak. Kishor, along with his supporters, was demanding the cancellation of the BPSC exam.

The district administration stated that Kishor was protesting in a restricted area at Gandhi Maidan, which is not authorized for such demonstrations. Authorities had previously issued a notice asking the protestors to shift to Gardanibagh, the designated protest site. However, the protestors, led by Kishor, did not comply with the instructions, resulting in the police arresting him for violating the protest rules. An FIR was filed against Kishor and other protestors for their unlawful gathering.

Following his arrest around 3-4 AM on Monday, Kishor was taken to AIIMS Patna for medical treatment. The police stated that Kishor refused to undergo any medical examination and insisted on continuing his hunger strike. Despite being in a hospital setting, Kishor's supporters gathered outside AIIMS, leading to a standoff. Police reportedly used mild force to allow an ambulance to pass through, as supporters obstructed the path.

After his arrest, Kishor was moved to a different location, and 43 other individuals were detained in connection with the protest. Among those detained, 30 were verified, while 4 were from out of state, and 5 were from Patna. The police conducted checks in the surrounding areas to prevent further gatherings. The district administration also seized 15 vehicles involved in the protest.

Kishor was presented before a civil court in Patna, where he was granted bail on a personal bond of ₹25,000. The court's decision allowed him to be released from police custody. The arrest and subsequent developments led to strong reactions from political parties, particularly from the opposition, who criticized the handling of the protest and the issues surrounding the BPSC exam. The situation has intensified public scrutiny on the state's response to the ongoing protests.