Bihar CM in POCSO row after posting photo with Jamui molestation survivor

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal over a social media post that allegedly disclosed the identity of a girl who was molested in Jamui district a few days ago.

The minor and her family met the Chief Minister in Patna on Thursday, where they were assured of speedy justice and the strongest possible punishment for all those responsible, with officials indicating the promise of a fast-track trial within a month.

Mr. Choudhary subsequently shared a photograph of himself with the survivor and her family members on X. The post was taken down shortly afterwards.

RJD national working president Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, saved a screenshot of the post and shared it on X, calling the Chief Minister "foolish and inept" and accusing him of violating the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Mr. Yadav, a former Deputy Chief Minister, also alleged that Mr. Choudhary had failed his Class VII examination and had been convicted in seven murder cases, and said the BJP leader deserved the strongest punishment for the alleged POCSO violation.

His eldest sister, Misa Bharti, the RJD MP from Patliputra, also shared the screenshot and urged the Bihar Police to register an FIR against the Chief Minister. She alleged that he had revealed the minor's identity at a time when the police were booking those who had uploaded videos of the molestation for intruding on the girl's privacy.

The incident in question occurred on Saturday evening, when a teenage boy and girl returning from coaching classes in Jamui were stopped by a group of men, surrounded, questioned and subjected to assault and molestation before being allowed to go.

Leaders of the ruling National Democratic Alliance were not immediately available for comment on the controversy.