JD(U) MLA Sunil Pandey arrested in connection with Ara Blast in June 2015

The Nitish Kumar-led JD(U)-RJD government in Bihar, has suffered a major embarrassment, as JD(U) MLA from Tarari in Bhojpur district, Sunil Pandey has been arrested in connection with the Ara Blast, which was triggered to ensure escape of gangster Lambu Sharma.

Lambu Sharma, who was arrested by Delhi Police, has confessed that Pandey had given him Rs 50 lakh in advance to kill UP’s Mafia don and Mau MLA Mukhtar Ansari. The conspiracy to eliminate Mukhtar Ansari was hatched @ Rs 6 crore to trigger communal riots ahead of Bihar polls. A sitting JD(U) MP and another MLC were allegedly involved in the conspiracy. But, it was not verified.

Sunil Pandey is the second JD(U) MLA to be arrested in the last two months. Earlier, MLA from Mokama, Anant Singh was arrested in connection with kidnapping of a builder of Bihta in November 2014.