Bhagalpur communal violence: Union minister Ashwini Choubey's son Arijit Shashwat granted bail

Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey’s son Arijit Shashwat was finally on Monday granted a bail in the recent communal clashes in Bhagalpur.

"Union minister Ashwini Choubey's son Arijit Shashwat granted bail in Bhagalpur violence case," ANI reported.

Union minister Ashwini Choubey's son Arijit Shashwat granted bail in Bhagalpur violence case. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/vsqCU0rGfD

— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2018

Earlier, on March 31, a Bihar court declined to grant bail to Shashwat after hearing both the sides. He was accused of inciting communal violence in the state’s Bhagalpur district, according to a government lawyer.

Hours after the rejection of Shashwat's bail application, the Bihar police on April 1, arrested him in connection with the case. He was later sent to 14 days of judicial custody.

Last month, a case was lodged against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shashwat on charges of taking out a procession without prior permission, inciting communal sentiments and roaming with arms on the streets of Bhagalpur.

Shashwat, who was evading his arrest, moved the bail plea in the civil court, following which the court sought the case diary from the police to ascertain his role in the communal flare-up on March 17.

After that, acting on an application from the district police, the court issued an arrest warrant against Shashwat on March 24.

Choubey described the FIR as ‘a piece of garbage’ that was registered by a group of ‘corrupt police officers in Bhagalpur’.

Shashwat unsuccessfully contested the last assembly polls as the BJP candidate from Bhagalpur, considered a stronghold of Choubey, who was elected MP from Buxar in 2014.