Patna: Anant Singh alias Chhote Sarkar is synonymous of terror in Mokama Taal area of Patna rural. The man who works in silence facing dozens of cases related to murder, extortions, kidnapping, armed raids and other crimes.
He was once very close to chief minister Nitish Kumar and he was like what Mohammad Shahabuddin was to Lalu Prasad. People still remember the famous photograph in which Nitish was standing in front of Anant with folded hand.
People also do not forget the incident in which Anant had weighed Nitish with silver coins during an election campaign in 2004 when he had visited Saksohra village in Barh.
This time, Anant is contesting assembly poll on RJD ticket from Mokama seat and would be facing JDU candidate Rajiv Lochan Narayan Singh whose father was once very close to former PM late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Comparing with Anant Singh track record, Lochan carries a clean image who hails from Shankartola in Mokama. Lochan father Venkatesh Narayan Singh alias Binni Babu was very close to Vajpayee and whenever former PM used to visit Mokama, he used to stay at Binni Babu's residence.
On the contrary, Anant Singh is known for the association with criminals and gang wars with archrival Viveka Pahalwan and Naga Singh and many more.
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Dozens were killed in the gang rivalry between Anant and Viveka, both residents of Ladma village, around 4km south of Barh sub-divisional town. Viveka was in jail for 9 years after he has found guilty in the murder of Anant elder brother Sachchidanant Singh alias Fajo Singh, an advocate. Nitish had even participated in Fajo's shradh (death rituals) that time.
Anant became the MLA for the first on JDU ticket in 2005 even in 2010 he was elected from the Mokama assembly constituency. In 2005, Anant had defeated LJP candidate and another archrival Nalini Ranjan with over 35000 votes. Similarly, in 2010, he defeated Sonam Devi, wife of Ranjan. However, Nitish dumped him in 2015 assembly poll, despite that Anant won the election as independent candidate defeating JDU candidate Neeraj Kumar.
People of Mokaa Taal still get goosebumps remembering the name of this don turned politician. At present, the controversial lawmaker is in jail after being charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) following the recovery of an AK-47 and grenades from his ancestral home Ladma village at Patna district.
The criminal antecedents of Anant go to 1976 as per the police records when his name first surfaced in the case related to theft. He gained the popularity as a notorious criminal when he avenged the murder of elder brother Biranchi Singh who was murdered by Munni Lal gang.
Anant became more popular after the murder of strongman Bacchu Singh a day before assembly polls in 2000 as his elder brother late Dilip Singh was contesting poll but Surajbhan Singh defeated Dilip.
Asked about giving ticket to a person with criminal antecedents, RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said that it was the decision of the party and things change in politics as per the situation. There was a time when RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav who is calling the shots in the party in the absence of his father had termed Anant a bad element.
He is also quite famous in Bihar for keeping a journalist and the cameraman hostage at his residence for more than two hours after beating him from the butt of the gun.
It is known fact that after becoming a lawmaker, Anant made the entry into the real estate and so far accumulated huge wealth. As per the affidavit, he filed a few days back, his wealth has increased 2000 times in the last 15 years. He holds the cash of Rs 22,13,388. In 2005, he had the assets worth Rs 3.40 lakh only. He is currently facing 38 criminal cases.
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He is also quite famous in Bihar for keeping a journalist and the cameraman hostage at his residence for more than two hours after beating him from the butt of the gun.
Anant had filed the IT return of Rs 8.86 lakh in 19-20 whereas his wife Neelam Devi filed the return of Rs 1.20 crore. So one can easily understand very well that how money is flowing at Chhote Sarkar's den in Bihar.
Several cases related to murder, kidnapping and extortion have been lodged in police stations such has Shastri Nagar, SK Puri, Kotwali and Patliputra in the state capital.
The non-matriculate legislator is also known for keeping horses and snakes at his official residence. He also likes puffing cigarette in style, wearing branded shoes and glasses apart from wearing white trousers and shirts. He also likes riding tonga (horse cart).
It would be interesting to watch that how people of Mokama behave this assembly election while choosing the candidate for their constituency as one is don and another one is a real saint with clean image and glowing past records, unlike Anant.
