A scuffle broke out between Railway Minister Lalu Prasad’s son and securitymen posted outside Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar’s official residence over taking a route that was closed during latter’s ‘Janata Durbar’ on Monday.

The incident occurred when Tej Pratap, elder son of Lalu Prasad and Leader of the Opposition Rabri Devi, was returning home via 10, Circular Road from school by a car which was stopped by the security personnel.

The Circular Road is closed for normal traffic every Monday when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar holds his Durbar at 1, Anne Marg.

As Tej Pratap’s car was halted at the wooden barricade, he informed his residence and a number of people from there including Rabri Devi rushed to the place following which the dropgate was lifted and vehicle was allowed to proceed to its destination.

However, soon Tej Pratap along with some others arrived at the entrance of the Janata Durbar and began shouting slogans against the Chief Minister.

Additional Director General of Police (HQ) Abhayanand told reporters that he had been informed that some  homeguards were dragged into the Lalu-Rabri residence.

Rabri Devi, however, denied any misbehaviour by her son and those accompanying him with the securitymen posted at the Chief Minister’s Janata Durbar.

A visibly angry Rabri Devi said the policemen misbehaved with them using foul language. The railway minister, who was also present at the residence, told the media that his son would not repeat the “filthy” language used by the policemen.

Rabri Devi said the episode happened despite securitymen accompanying her son.

Both Rabri Devi and Lalu Prasad complained that there was a ‘curfew-like’ scene every Monday when the Janata Durbar was held and common people had to suffer humiliation by the policemen guarding both ends of the Circular Road.

Parents’ defence

“Neither my son, nor anybody from our side created any nuisance. We simply asked the policemen present at the barricade to allow my son in...”, Rabri Devi said.

Lalu Prasad said that he spoke to Senior Superintendent of Police Kundan Krishnan, who apologised for the incident and assured that he would set things right.