The Bihar government on Wednesday suspended six policemen for allowing a former Bihar Member of Parliament Anand Mohan, serving a life imprisonment in the 1994 lynching case of Gopalganj district magistrate G Krishnaiah, to visit a politician's residence to hold press conference, followed by a 'janata darbar,' on his way from jail in Saharsa to appear in a court in Sitamarhi district.
It was not the first such case in Bihar, it is common that criminals enjoy a 'good life' in custody. In the past, raids in the state's jails have led to the seizure of colour TVs, mobile phones, imported liquor and cigarettes.
Criminal-turned-politicians like Pappu Yadav and Mohammad Shahabuddin hit the headlines for holding 'durbars' (courts) inside the jail and threatening the staff.
There have been reports of criminals-turned-politician visiting markets and homes of people on way back from court hearings.
A few years ago, former legislator Rajan Tiwari, who is facing several criminal charges, reportedly visited a massage parlour outside the high-security Beur jail in Patna where he was an under trial.