The issue between Anant Singh, a notorious gangster-turned-politician, and Kuldip Narayan, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 2005 Bihar cadre, centers around a significant confrontation during Narayan's tenure as the Patna Municipal Commissioner (PMC) from April 2013 to January 2015. This conflict highlights the clash between administrative integrity and the influence of politically connected criminal elements in Bihar.
Background Context
Anant Singh, often referred to as "Chhote Sarkar" (Junior Government), is a powerful figure in Bihar with a long history of criminal activities and political influence. A former MLA from Mokama, he has been linked to over 38 criminal cases, including charges of murder, attempt to murder, and kidnapping, as per his 2020 election affidavit. Despite his criminal background, Singh wielded significant clout, particularly among the Bhumihar community, and enjoyed political patronage from various parties, including the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) until his fallout with party leader Nitish Kumar in 2015. His influence extended into illegal activities, including land grabbing and construction rackets in Patna.
Kuldip Narayan, known for his integrity and innovative governance, served as the PMC during a period when Patna was undergoing rapid urbanization, often accompanied by illegal construction and corruption. Narayan, a Mechanical Engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur, had earned a reputation for transparency and anti-corruption measures during his earlier postings in Bihar, such as his anti-bribery movement in Gopalganj and asset declaration initiatives in Chhapra.
The Core Issue: Crackdown on Illegal Constructions
The primary issue between Anant Singh and Kuldip Narayan arose when Narayan, as PMC, initiated a crackdown on illegal constructions in Patna. One of the most high-profile cases involved the Patna Central Mall, a commercial property owned by Anant Singh, who was a ruling party MLA at the time. The mall, located in a prominent area of Patna, had been constructed in violation of the city’s building bylaws and master plan. Specifically, the top two floors of the mall were deemed unauthorized by the Patna High Court, which was monitoring a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) related to illegal constructions in the city.
Narayan, acting under the court’s directives and his mandate to enforce urban planning regulations, ordered the demolition of the top two floors of the Patna Central Mall. This action directly challenged Singh’s interests, as the mall represented both a financial asset and a symbol of his influence in Patna. Narayan’s broader efforts to curb illegal constructions also targeted the powerful builders’ lobby in the city, which often operated with the backing of political figures like Singh.
Escalation and Suspension of Kuldip Narayan
The demolition order against the Patna Central Mall, executed in late 2014, provoked a strong backlash from Anant Singh and his supporters. Singh, leveraging his political connections within the JD(U)-led government under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, allegedly pressured the state administration to retaliate against Narayan. On December 12, 2014, the Bihar government issued a late-night order suspending Narayan from his position as PMC. The official reason cited was Narayan’s alleged failure to utilize allocated funds for civic amenities during the financial years 2012-13 and 2013-14. However, this justification was widely contested and viewed as a pretext.
Critics, including the IAS Association and prominent political figures like BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, argued that the suspension was a direct result of Narayan’s actions against Singh and the builders’ lobby. Modi publicly stated that the Bihar government had “totally surrendered” to Anant Singh, suggesting that the suspension was a politically motivated move to protect Singh’s interests. The timing of the suspension—shortly after the demolition order—and the lack of prior notice or inquiry further fueled suspicions of political interference.
Public and Legal Response
Narayan’s suspension sparked significant outrage among Patna’s residents and civil society, who admired his efforts to introduce transparency and accountability in the PMC. He had made all internal and external correspondence, tax data, and transactions of the PMC publicly available online, reducing opportunities for corruption. His actions against illegal constructions were seen as a bold stand against the nexus of politicians, gangsters, and builders.
The IAS Association rallied in Narayan’s support, appealing to the Patna High Court against his suspension. Notably, the court had previously stayed Narayan’s transfer in July 2013, recognizing his contributions to urban governance. While specific details of the legal outcome following the 2014 suspension are not widely documented, the incident highlighted the challenges faced by honest officers in confronting entrenched vested interests.
Broader Implications
The confrontation between Anant Singh and Kuldip Narayan underscores the systemic issues of corruption, political patronage, and the influence of criminal elements in Bihar’s governance. Singh’s ability to mobilize political support against Narayan reflects the power wielded by gangster-politicians in the state, often at the expense of administrative integrity. Narayan’s suspension, though a setback, did not diminish his reputation; he later received the Satyendra K. Dubey Memorial Award from IIT Kanpur in 2015 for his efforts to promote probity and transparency.
For Anant Singh, the incident was one of many in his controversial career. His political influence persisted despite legal challenges, though he faced imprisonment in 2022 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for illegal possession of weapons. His eventual acquittal by the Patna High Court in August 2024 and subsequent release on parole during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections indicate his continued relevance in Bihar’s political landscape.
Conclusion
The issue between Anant Singh and Kuldip Narayan was a clash between a gangster-politician’s vested interests and an IAS officer’s commitment to lawful governance. Narayan’s efforts to enforce building regulations and curb illegal constructions in Patna threatened Singh’s financial and political dominance, leading to a retaliatory suspension orchestrated through political channels. This episode remains a poignant example of the challenges faced by upright administrators in India when confronting powerful criminal-political nexus.
Top FAQs About the Issue Between Anant Singh and Kuldip Narayan
1. Who is Anant Singh?
Anant Singh, also known as "Chhote Sarkar," is a gangster-turned-politician from Bihar, a former MLA from Mokama, and a figure with significant influence in the state’s political and criminal landscape.
2. Who is Kuldip Narayan?
Kuldip Narayan is an IAS officer of the 2005 Bihar cadre, currently serving as the Managing Director of the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, known for his integrity and transparency initiatives.
3. What was the main issue between Anant Singh and Kuldip Narayan?
The main issue was Narayan’s order, as Patna Municipal Commissioner, to demolish the top two floors of the Patna Central Mall, owned by Anant Singh, due to violations of building bylaws, leading to a confrontation with Singh’s interests.
4. Why was Kuldip Narayan suspended in 2014?
Narayan was suspended by the Bihar government in December 2014, officially for failing to utilize allocated funds, but widely believed to be a retaliatory action by Anant Singh and the builders’ lobby due to his crackdown on illegal constructions.
5. What role did the Patna Central Mall play in the conflict?
The Patna Central Mall, owned by Anant Singh, became a focal point of the conflict when Narayan ordered the demolition of its unauthorized top floors, acting on a Patna High Court-monitored PIL, which angered Singh and his supporters.
6. How did the public and IAS Association respond to Narayan’s suspension?
The public and IAS Association strongly supported Narayan, viewing his suspension as unjust. The IAS Association appealed to the Patna High Court, and residents praised his transparency efforts in the PMC.
7. What was the political context of the issue?
The incident occurred under the JD(U)-led government in Bihar, headed by Nitish Kumar. Anant Singh, a former JD(U) MLA, allegedly used his political influence within the ruling party to retaliate against Narayan.
8. What was the outcome of the legal proceedings following Narayan’s suspension?
While specific outcomes are not widely documented, the IAS Association’s appeal to the Patna High Court and prior judicial support (e.g., the 2013 stay on his transfer) suggest efforts to defend Narayan, though the suspension stood at the time.
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