SC defers hearing of rape accused RJD MLA's bail till Oct. 24

The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on the plea to cancel the bail of rape-accused RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav till October 24.

During the hearing, the apex court asked the trial court in Bihar not to record the statement of rape victim, adding that the hearing on the bail of the MLA would continue till next hearing.

The victim has stated that she feels threatened and cannot appear before the trial court on regular basis.

Earlier, Yadav was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 30.

In April, Yadav was named as one of the main accused in a charge-sheet filed by Nalanda Police, after he allegedly raped a minor girl at his Biharsharif residence on February 6.

He was immediately suspended by the party.

After absconding for almost one month, Yadav had surrendered in March before a chief magistrate's court in Bihar Sharif in Nalanda and was sent to jail.

However, he was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 30, which the opposition used to criticize the state government for not placing facts against the RJD MLA before the Patna High Court.