An FIR has been lodged against Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, popularly known as ‘Lalan,’ following a controversy surrounding his remarks directed at opposition leaders in Bihar.
The Union Minister found himself in hot water on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, after a video circulated showing him allegedly instructing NDA supporters to intimidate their political rivals on election day.
The footage reportedly originated from Mokama, a constituency within Lalan’s Munger Lok Sabha seat. This incident compounds earlier criticism faced by the former JD(U) president for defending party candidate Anant Singh, who is implicated in a murder case.
In the widely shared video, Lalan Singh is purportedly heard speaking in Magahi, urging supporters: “There are some people out here whom you must not allow to venture out on polling day. Lock them up inside their homes. If they cajole you, accompany them to polling booths and ensure that they go home after casting their vote.” The authenticity of this video has not been independently verified.
Anant Singh, a controversial former Bihar MLA currently seeking re-election in Mokama, was arrested over the weekend along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. Their arrest is linked to the murder of Dular Chand Yadav, a supporter of the Jan Suraaj Party, who was killed while campaigning for Piyush Priyadarshi in Mokama last week.
During a campaign event for Anant Singh in Mokama on Monday, November 3, Mr. Lalan had publicly defended Singh, describing the murder incident as a “conspiracy.” He emphasized that Anant Singh had cooperated with the police and respected the rule of law.
Lalan Singh, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, had visited Mokama to campaign for Anant Singh. Addressing the assembly, Lalan Singh declared, “After Anant Singh’s arrest, every person should contest the election as Anant Singh. When Anant Babu was out, my responsibility was less, but now that he is in jail, my responsibility has increased even more. From today, I have taken the command of Mokama into my own hands. I must say that there is a conspiracy behind the arrest of Anant Singh. The truth will soon come out as the police are investigating the case and people will come to know about the conspirators also.”
Opposition parties, including the RJD and Congress, swiftly condemned Lalan Singh’s recent video on Tuesday, November 4.
The RJD took to X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Lalan Singh, while running a bulldozer over the chest of the Election Commission, is saying that the poor should not be allowed to step out of their homes on voting day! They should be locked inside the house, if they create too much fuss, then take them along and let them cast their vote. Where is the dead commission?”
Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala also reacted on X, writing, “This is the new example of ‘gundagardi and jungle raj’ in Bihar! With defeat in sight, JD(U)-BJP leaders are now openly saying they won’t let people step out of their homes on voting day, will lock them inside, and if they resist too much, will drag them along to cast their votes.”