MLA Says He Would Rather Be Hanged Than Seek Forgiveness
Key Points:
- Dumri MLA Jayram Mahto rejects police association’s demand for public apology
- MLA writes to assembly speaker seeking fair, evidence-based inquiry
- Dispute stems from alleged scuffle at Barwaadda police station on August 21
RANCHI – The controversy surrounding the case registered against Dumri MLA Jayram Mahto has continued to escalate. After the Jharkhand Police Association publicly demanded that he apologise, the MLA hit back sharply. Speaking to the media, he said in no uncertain terms that he would rather be hanged than apologise.
Mahto trained his guns on the Police Association and said he would continue to raise his voice against corrupt officials without hesitation. Referring to the DC, SP and other officers, he expressed his displeasure and said he would not bow to any pressure.
The case against Mahto was registered over an alleged scuffle, abusive language, and forcibly freeing an accused person held in custody at Barwaadda police station. Following this, the Jharkhand Police Association had held a press conference in support of the station in-charge and demanded that the MLA apologise publicly.
However, Mahto has now made it clear that he has no intention of apologising. He said that if he must pay a price for speaking up and raising his voice against corruption, he is prepared to do so.
Amid the ongoing dispute, Mahto has also written a lengthy letter to the Speaker of the Jharkhand Assembly. In the letter, he said he is an elected member of the assembly, and that protecting the dignity, honour and rights of every member of the House is the constitutional responsibility of the Speaker.
Mahto clarified in the letter that he does not consider himself above the law, nor is he seeking any special protection. He said that if a serious crime has been committed and there is sufficient evidence, the law should take its course impartially.
However, the MLA questioned whether an FIR should be registered against an elected representative merely on the basis of allegations, without adequate facts or a preliminary inquiry.
Referring to the August 21 incident at Barwaadda police station in his letter, Mahto claimed he had gone to the station after receiving information that a man named Ganesh Das was allegedly being beaten in police custody. According to the MLA, he only told the station in-charge that if the man had committed a crime, legal action should be taken against him, but he sought to know why he was being beaten in custody.
Mahto claimed he neither asked for the accused to be released nor tried to obstruct any legal action. He also said the incident took place inside the police station premises, where CCTV cameras are installed and several police officers were present. He said the available evidence should therefore be examined impartially.
In his letter, Mahto also referred to other cases previously registered against him. He alleged that action had been taken against him in several cases without adequate verification or proper examination of facts.
The MLA questioned why a preliminary inquiry is conducted in cases involving other elected representatives, but the same process and fairness are not applied in his case.
Mahto has sought the Speaker’s intervention in the matter. He said his demand is not for any special exemption or to be placed above the law, but for a just, impartial and evidence-based legal process to be followed in his case as well.
The dispute appears to be deepening further following the MLA’s statement that he would rather be hanged than apologise, along with his letter to the Speaker. While the Police Association remains firm on its demand for an apology from the MLA, Jayram Mahto has made clear that he has no intention of backing down. The matter could heat up further, both politically and administratively, in the coming days.
