Gangster-turned-politician Anand Mohan Singh released from Bihar's Saharsa jail

Saharsa (Bihar): Gangster-turned-politician Anand Mohan Singh was released from Bihar's Saharsa jail early Thursday morning, a jail official confirmed.

Singh's release was necessitated after the Bihar government recently amended the prison rules allowing the release of 27 convicts including him.

He was serving a life sentence in the 1994 murder of then Gopalganj District Magistrate G Krishnaiah. After the Bihar Government amended the rules of the Jail manual, an official notification stated that 27 prisoners who have served 14 years or 20 years in jail have been ordered to be released.

Posters welcoming the former MP Anand Mohan were put up at Veer Kunwar Singh Chowk in the district. The gangster-turned-politician was earlier on parole of 15 days to attend the engagement ceremony of his MLA son Chetan Anand. He had returned to Saharsa jail on April 26 following the end of his parole period.

There has been a backlash regarding the former MP's release from jail by the opposition in the state. Responding to the uproar over his imminent release, Anand Mohan Singh on Tuesday took a dig at the BJP and said convicts in Bilkis Bano case were also released under Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's pressure.

"In Gujarat also, some decision has been taken under the pressure of RJD and Nitish Kumar, go and see that. Some people have been released and garlanded. Yes, I am pointing out to that case (Bilkis Bano case) only," Singh told mediapersons.

He said that he has "full sympathy" with the slain IAS officer's family.