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Hometown: Patna
Wife: Neelam Devi
Caste: Bhumihars
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Chote Sarkar, check sources HuffPost The Don of Mokama check sources Open Magazine |
| Profession(s) | Politician, Don |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters**- 178 cm** in meters**- 1.78 m** in feet & inches**- 5’ 10”** |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Politics | |
| Political Party | • Janata Dal (United) (2005-2015)  • Rashtriya Janata Dal (2020 - Present)  |
| Political Journey | • Elected as MLA from Mokama on JDU's ticket in 2005 • Re-elected as MLA from Mokama on JDU's ticket in 2010 • Re-elected as MLA from Mokama as an independent candidate in 2015 • Re-elected as MLA from Mokama on RJD's ticket in 2020 • Disqualified from Bihar legislative assembly in 2022 following his conviction in the Arms Act Case (2015) |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 5 January 1967 (Thursday) |
| Age (as of 2025) | 58 Years |
| Birthplace | Nadwan (also known as Ladma) village of Barh district of Bihar, India |
| Signature |  |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Patna, Bihar |
| Educational Qualification | Singh hasn’t studied much. check sources Open Magazine |
| Religion | Hinduism  |
| Caste | Bhumihars check sources The Indian Express |
| Address | • Pachchhim Tola, Village-Nadawan, Post-Nadawan , P.S.-Barh, District-Patna Bihar, India • 1, Mall Road, Patna, Bihar, India  |
| Hobbies | Watching cinema, spending time with his pet animals |
| Controversies | • Brandishing An AK-47 in Public (2004): In 2004, a viral video showed Anant Singh displaying an AK-47 at a function in his ancestral village, Nadma. Despite the fact that only security personnel are permitted to carry such assault rifles, no action was taken against him. check sources Carnegie Endowment for International Peace • Mystery over Reshma Khatoon's Rape and Murder Charges and Assault on Journalists: In November 2007, NDTV reporter Prakash Singh and camera persons Habib Ali and Ajay Kumar were confined and brutally thrashed by Anant when they visited the MLA’s residence to obtain his statement on reports linking him to the rape and murder of a young woman named Reshma Khatoon. The police had recovered the body of a young girl from a locality in Patna. No one turned up to either identify or claim it. Incidentally, the police also recovered from the possession of the body a copy of the letter purportedly written by Reshma Khatoon. The letter said don-turned-politician Anant, his bodyguard Bipin Singh, and builder friend Mukesh Singh had sexually exploited her. Reshma had alleged it was Mukesh, who had introduced him to the MLA after she was lured into a trap by the builder on the promise of being given a job in his company. She had written letters to the Chief Minister, leader of the opposition, police officers, and the media about a fortnight ago informing them about her alleged rape by the three and the threat to her life from them. A man claiming himself to be Munna, her brother, in a separate letter to the CM and others had feared that his sister had been killed after she was picked up by Mukesh and Bipin on 27 October 2007. After the body was discovered, the NDTV journalist fixed up an appointment with the MLA for his comments on it. In his book "Ruled Or Misruled: Story and Destiny of Bihar," Patna-based senior journalist Santosh Singh described the incident. According to the book, when Anant Singh found out that the channel had already aired negative news about him, he ordered his goons to beat the journalists. Fortunately, the cameraman managed to escape and informed the media house about what happened. Upon hearing about the incident, other journalists from Patna went to Singh's home to protest and show support to the aggrieved journalists. However, they were also attacked and forced to leave by Singh's followers. On 20 November 2007, he was given a clean chit in Reshma's murder case. The police named builder Anil Sharma as the main accused in the case. check sources Zee News Singh and four of his henchmen were arrested for assault on the journalists but he was out of judicial custody within 10 days. check sources HuffPost • Murder Case of Contractor Sanjay Singh (2008): In January 2008, Anant Singh was accused in an FIR related to the murder of contractor Sanjay Singh, who was the younger brother of Mokama gang leader Viveka Singh. Anant Singh and Viveka Singh, who are first cousins, were engaged in a territorial dispute over control of the Barh sub-division at that time. Sanjay was shot dead in broad daylight on Boring Road in central Patna. The main witness in the case, Sanjay's nephew Raja Parikhshit, filed the FIR. Anant Singh, along with his shooter Bhola Singh and three others, were named as suspects in the murder. check sources The Times of India check sources Rediff • Derogatory and Casteist Remarks Against Jitan Ram Manjhi: A few days before Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's resignation on 20 February 2015, Singh made offensive and casteist comments about him. Upendra Manjhi, the chief minister's nephew, filed an FIR against Singh under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the SC/ST Act. The FIR was registered at Khijarsarai police station in Gaya district. In 2017, Singh was granted bail by a local court for the case; however, he remained in jail due to other ongoing cases against him. check sources The Indian Express • Kidnapping and Murder Case of Putus Yadav (2015): On 17 June 2015, four youths (including a boy named Putus Yadav) were abducted and killed after they allegedly harassed a woman in Barh town, Bihar. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav ensured that the Bihar police took prompt action in the kidnapping and murder case of the youths. Consequently, six individuals involved in the crime were arrested, and one of them confessed to the police that Mokama MLA Anant Singh was also involved. Moreover, the body of Putus Yadav was found in Ladma, the ancestral village of Anant Singh. It was reported that the woman who was harassed by Putus Yadav was the sister of one of Singh's associates. When Singh's name came up in the case, the police conducted a raid at his official residence in Patna. During the raid, they discovered six empty magazines of sophisticated Insas rifles, a bulletproof jacket, and some blood-stained clothes. Thereafter, he was charged under the Arms Act. check sources The Times of India Consequently, on 24 June 2015, Singh was arrested. A week before his arrest, two of his close aides, Bhushan and Ghanshyam, were also arrested in connection with the murder of Putus Yadav. They allegedly claimed that they were acting under the direction of Anant Singh. In April 2017, after being imprisoned for almost 22 months Singh was released on bail. In July 2022, Special Judge, MP/MLA court Triloki Nath Dubey sentenced Singh to ten years of rigorous imprisonment in the case. check sources The Hindu check sources DNA  • Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) Case: In 2019, during a police raid at Singh's ancestral residence in Mokama, weapons such as an AK-47 and a hand grenade were found. The raid was conducted in connection with a contract killing case. Prior to the raid, an audio recording had gone viral in which Anant Singh was heard allegedly giving a contract to kill someone. When the police went to arrest Singh, he fled from his residence. During the raid, the police arrested Singh's accomplice Chhotan Singh from his official residence. Thereafter, a separate FIR was filed at Sachivalaya Police Station in Patna against Anant Singh for providing shelter and protection to Chhotan Singh, who was an accused in a criminal case registered with Barh Police Station. Later, Singh released a video message in which he said, "I am not afraid of getting arrested. I have come to see my ailing friend and will surrender in the court in the next three-four days. But first of all, I will go to my flat and interact with journalists.” On 23 August 2019, he turned himself in before a metropolitan court in Saket, Delhi. Later, he was taken to Patna and imprisoned in Beur Central jail. In June 2022, the MP/MLA Court in Patna sentenced Singh to ten years in prison in the Arms Act case. check sources The Times of India check sources The Indian Express • Land Grabbing Cases: After becoming an MLA, Anant Singh showed interest in properties in Patna and managed to acquire prime property in the city. Despite the rightful owner's efforts to reclaim the property, including seeking a meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during a public hearing, no action was taken. In a short time, Anant Singh gained a reputation as a prominent property grabber in Patna. Despite facing about 35 criminal cases, he was acquitted in most of them, with each acquittal raising suspicions of special treatment. check sources dailyO In 2015, it was revealed that Anant owned 19 plots and three flats in Patna. Information from the police showed a total of 32 properties acquired either by the MLA or his family members, including his wife. Among these properties, Anant Singh had 13 plots registered under his name, while 12 plots were purchased under the name of his sister-in-law, Dehuti Sinha (referred to as his "bhabhi"). The remaining seven plots were registered in the names of other relatives. Additionally, his wife, Neelam Devi, was listed as a co-owner in 11 of these properties, according to police records. check sources The Times of India • Illegal Constructions Patna Central Mall on Frazer Road: On 26 September 2014, Singh caused a stir by opening a seven-storey Mall on Fraser Road, Patna, despite it being in violation of building bylaws. check sources India Today  After the inauguration, Singh held a press conference and dismissed the claims, stating that the mall had been in business since 2012, and there was no question of inaugurating it on September 26. He said, "BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi is making baseless allegations. He should have gone through the legal documents of the mall. The plot is owned by me and I gave it on rent to the mall proprietor. Its construction started in 2009 and it was handed over to the proprietor in 2012. The Patna district administration and Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials have inspected the plan and legal documents of the mall. The proprietor had arranged a special programme before Durga Puja as public relation activity on that day. So, I went there.” check sources The Times of India In November 2014, the Patna district administration sealed the illegally constructed sections of the building after a court order called for the termination of all activities in those parts. check sources The Times of India Subsequently, the Patna Central Mall was permanently shut down. Buddha Heritage in Patliputra: In 2013, Anant Singh inaugurated the Buddha Heritage Hotel, which covered an area of over 10,000 square feet in the posh Patliputra locality in Patna, Bihar.  Despite the Patliputra society rules prohibiting commercial establishments in the area, nobody dared to question him about it. Singh also tried to take over an open space in front of his hotel by putting up barricades which was used by kids for playing and elders for walking. The barricaded area was temporarily used as a parking lot for the hotel. Social welfare minister Parveen Amanullah noticed Singh's attempt to encroach upon the open space. She launched an anti-encroachment campaign against him. Initially, when Amanullah asked the hotel management to remove the encroachment, Singh completely ignored it, denying that it was an encroachment at all. When Amanullah sought help from the Patliputra House Construction Society, its office bearers, including acting president B K Sinha and two other directors Kumkum Narayan and Major M K Mukherjee, decided to step down from their positions, seemingly to avoid taking action against the influential encroachers. However, Anant Singh's men had to remove their encroachment when Parveen Amanullah personally went to his hotel without any security and set a deadline for them to vacate the land, warning them of legal action. Amanullah's successful anti-encroachment campaign against Anant Singh had a significant impact, leading many to believe that even powerful individuals can be challenged and made to follow the rules. check sources India Today Hotel Buddha Inn in SK Puri: In 2014, the court of Patna Municipal Corporation commissioner Kuldip Narayan deemed the ground plus the five-floor structure of Hotel Buddha Inn illegal. The court also issued an order for PMC officials to reclaim plot number 14/D, Shri Krishna Puri (where the hotel was constructed), along with any other structures that were already built or under construction on that plot, within a 30-day timeframe. The plot Anant Singh’s wife Neelam Singh. Initially, the plot was leased to the late Braj Bihari Singh in 1967 by Patna Regional Development Authority, and it subsequently changed ownership multiple times. check sources The Times of India • Beur Jail Violence: In 2023, Anant Singh and 30 others were accused of attempting to escape from Beur Central Jail in Patna and assaulting prison staff. Singh, who was an inmate at the jail, claimed that a conspiracy was being hatched to kill him inside the jail premises.. During the incident, 11 prison employees were injured. As per the First Information Report (FIR), on July 16, Anant Singh and his supporters initiated the attack by assaulting Warden Anirudh Kumar Baitha. Assistant Superintendent Bhutes Kumar, who tried to intervene, was also attacked by the prisoners. Additionally, warders Sanjiv Kumar Shah and Gautam Kumar were assaulted, and the prisoners took control of the cell keys, released other inmates, and damaged the jail's CCTV cameras. check sources Hindustan Times |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | Nilam Devi (also spelt Neelam Devi) ( politician and a member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal party)  |
| Children | Son- Abhishek, Ankit, and Abhinav   Daughter- Shivangi Note: Abhishek and Ankit are twins and elder than Abhinav |
| Parents | Father- Chandradeep Singh (farmer) Mother- Name Not Known |
| Siblings | Brother(s)-3 • Biranchi Singh (deceased; mukhia (village headman) and a prominent landlord) • Fajo Singh (deceased) • Dilip Singh (deceased; politician)  |
| Money Factor | |
| Assets/Properties | Moveable Assets • Cash: Rs. 22,13,488 • Deposits in Banks: Rs. 31,96,258 • Bonds, Debentures and Shares: Rs. 3,58,06,029 • Personal loans: Rs. 5,38,99,339 • Motor Vehicles: Rs. 6,00,000 • Jewellery: Rs. 4,10,000 • Other Assets: Rs. 3,10,000 Immovable Assets • Agricultural Land: Rs. 15,00,000 • Non-Agricultural Land: Rs. 8,00,000 • Commercial Buildings: Rs 10,00,00,000 • Residential Buildings: Rs. 4,50,000 Note: The given estimates of moveable and immovable assets are according to the financial year 2019-20. It does not include the assets owned by his wife and dependents. |
| Net Worth (as of 2020) | Rs. 19,81,85,114 Note: It does not include the net worth of his wife and dependents. check sources MyNeta |
Anant Kumar Singh is an Indian don-turned-politician who was elected as MLA from Mokama four times, in 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. He was a member of the Janata Dal (United) party at the beginning and joined the Rashtriya Janata Dal in 2020. Well known as Chote Sarkar, Singh was charged with 38 criminal charges according to his 2020 election affidavit.
Singh’s father, Chandradeep Singh, was a supporter of communists.
In an interview, Singh revealed that he used to catch snakes in his village as a kid. He also said that he lived with Sadhus in Haridwar and Ayodhya as a child to reach a higher consciousness. check sources Open Magazine
One the Singh’s local legends in Mokama include how he swam across the lake to kill the murderers of his eldest brother, Birachi Singh. Sympathizers of the Naxalite rebels, who were carrying out targeted assassinations of upper-caste landlords, killed Birachi before taking refuge on a boat in the middle of the Ganges. Anant supposedly tracked his brother’s killer for months to avenge. When he learnt about their location, he swam across the river and murdered the men. Anant was 28 at that time. Such transgressions made him notorious in the area, and he started rising to prominence.
Anant’s brother Fajo Singh was gunned down by his archrival Viveka Pahalwan.
For years, the legal cases against Anant have been neglected, and during this period, judges have passed away, law enforcement officials have been reassigned, and evidence has disappeared.
Anant became a popular figure in politics because of his older brother, Dilip, who became a leader of the Bhumihar gang in the Barh region in Bihar during the mid-1980s.
A picture of Anant Kumar Singh
The Barh region is notorious for its serious caste conflicts, particularly between two Forward Castes of Bihar, the Bhumihars and Rajputs. People in the area are afraid of being kidnapped or harmed to such an extent that they avoid going out at night. In these conflicts, Anant and Dilip emerged as a saviour for their community. Dilip Singh used to raise horses in Nadwan village, located in the Barh region. However, his desire for money led him down a different path, and he got involved in extortion. He soon became closely associated with Kamdev Singh, a smuggler in central Bihar. Additionally, Dilip Singh would also engage in booth capturing for Shyam Sundar Singh ‘Dheeraj,’ who was the Congress MLA from Mokama from 1980 to 1990. Sundar Singh gained power in the area with the support of his gang members. Once Dilip visited Sundar Singh at his government residence in Patna, where the latter insulted Dilip by calling him a disreputable man. He asked Dilip to visit him secretly at night instead of in broad daylight. Irked over the incident, Dilip muscle power to gain political power to win the Mokama seat in 1990 on Janata Dal’s ticket. Later, Lalu Prasad Yadav made him a minister in his regime. Dilip Singh came to be known as Bhara Sarkar in the region. check sources The Times of India Mokama was represented by Dilip till 2000 when another muscleman-turned-politician Surajbhan Singh contested from the constituency and won. Anant, who initially worked as Dilip’s assistant in criminal activities, took control of the family’s political affairs after Dilip’s death.
Singh’s life took an unexpected turn when Nitish Kumar decided to support him as the candidate of the Janata Dal (United) from the Mokama constituency in 2005.
Nitish Kumar (right) greeting Anant Kumar Singh (left) with folded hands
Some people found this decision confusing because Kumar had promised to end the influence of criminals in politics in Bihar, and yet he was endorsing someone facing serious criminal charges. Despite the criticism, Singh won the Mokama seat with the help of his fellow Bhumihars and the overall support from Nitish Kumar.
During interviews in the Mokama region to understand why voters chose Anant Singh, it was discovered that people were well aware of his criminal activities but still believed he could protect their interests. In a society divided by caste and land, some saw Singh’s unlawful behaviour as a sign of reliability and trustworthiness.
A hoarding in Mokama said that Anant Singh won’t tolerate any atrocities against women
In 2005, Singh had declared a paltry Rs 3.40 lakh in his election affidavit, which by 2010 had risen to Rs 38.84 lakh.
In 2007, Singh gained national attention when he kept two journalists from NDTV 24×7 and ANI News as hostages at his Mall Road residence. The journalists had visited him for an interview about his alleged involvement in the murder and molestation of a woman named Reshma Khatoon, whose body was discovered in a sack in Patna.
On 24 June 2015, he was arrested in the kidnapping and murder case of Putus Yadav. He remained imprisoned for 22 months after which he was released on bail in April 2017.
Anant Kumar Singh walking out of a police van
On 2 September 2015, Singh left the JD(U) after a disagreement with leader Nitish Kumar, who had formed an alliance with the RJD.
Subsequently, he ran as an independent candidate in the 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election and won the Mokama assembly seat by defeating LJP candidate Kanhaiya Singh with a margin of 38,533 votes. During that period, Singh was in Beur Central Jail due to his involvement in the kidnapping and murder case of four youths. In March 2016, about four-and-a-half months after winning the reelection from the Mokama seat, Singh took the oath of membership in the Bihar legislative assembly. However, right after the oath ceremony, the police took him back to Beur Central Jail. Before this, the three-time MLA had never taken the oath inside the House and had always chosen to be sworn in at the Speaker’s chamber. But this time, he chose to take the oath inside the House.
In 2020, he joined Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav once referred to Singh as an “anti-social element.” In 2015, it was RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav who demanded Singh’s arrest in connection with the kidnapping and murder case of Putus Yadav. Despite these criticisms and calls for action, Singh was selected as an RJD candidate to contest the 2020 Bihar legislative assembly election from Mokama.
The jailed Anant Singh, who came in a prison van, files his nomination papers on an RJD ticket for the Mokama Assembly seat in October 2020
In 2022, the Mokama seat fell vacant following the disqualification of RJD MLA Anant Singh after his conviction in the Arms Act case. In the same year, Anant’s wife, Neelam Devi, won the Mokama assembly by-poll on RJD’s ticket.
He is a chain smoker. check sources Open Magazine
An avid animal lover, Singh owns various horses, a pet elephant named Purvi, and reportedly a python. check sources India Today check sources Open Magazine
A picture of Anant Kumar Singh with his elephant
While legislators in Bihar prefer to showcase their luxurious SUVs, Anant Singh chose to make a unique statement by giving up his swanky Mercedes car and instead opting to ride a horse-drawn carriage to the state Assembly premises. He explained that his love for animals, especially horses, motivated him to own and use the buggy.
Anant Singh on his horse-buggy riding to Assembly premises in Bihar
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Yes, in 2004, a viral video showed Anant Singh displaying an AK-47 at a function in his ancestral village, Nadma, despite such weapons being restricted to security personnel.
Yes, Anant Singh was elected as MLA from Mokama in 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, even while facing numerous criminal charges, including murder and kidnapping.
Yes, according to local legend, Anant Singh swam across the Ganges at age 28 to avenge his eldest brother Birachi Singh's murder, killing the Naxalite rebels responsible.
Yes, Anant Singh is an avid animal lover and owns various horses, a pet elephant named Purvi, and reportedly a python.
Yes, Anant Singh chose to ride a horse-drawn buggy to the Assembly premises, citing his love for animals, especially horses.