Arrested editor fears danger to life

PATNA - Navlesh Pathak, editor of an English weekly arrested in connection with the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Raj Kishore Kesri, Tuesday said he feels threatened in police custody.

Kesri, a BJP legislator from Purnea constituency, was knifed Jan 4 in his home by teacher Rupam Pathak, who alleged the politician had raped her for over three years.

Navlesh Pathak, editor of Purnea-based English weekly Quisling, was the first one to report about Rupam’s sexual harassment complaint. He was arrested after a complaint was registered in the case against three people, including Rupam, by Kesri’s nephew. A Bihar court earlier this month sent him to judicial custody for 14 days.

Navlesh Pathak Tuesday repeatedly said that he fears danger to his life. “I fear threat and danger to my life in judicial custody to hide evidences against powerful people in the case,” he said while being taken to the court.

He also demanded Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security during judicial custody.

The court Tuesday extended his judicial custody by 14 days. He will be again produced in the court Jan 31.

Ruma, Navlesh Pathak’s wife, alleged that police have been biased in their investigations.

Rupam Pathak, 40, went to Kesri’s home in Purnea and stabbed him to death in the presence of a number of people. Rupam was badly beaten up by Kesri’s security guards and supporters following the murder. She alleged that Kesri, 51, had raped her for over three years, a charge refuted by the party.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar earlier this month ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the murder following a hue and cry by the opposition and women organisations.