Patna Mayor's son charged with assault after PMC scuffle, yet to be apprehended

Patna Mayor Sita Sahu (right) and her son Shishir Kumar (left).

A routine meeting of the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) turned into a physical brawl last week after Shishir Kumar, the son of Mayor Sita Sahu, allegedly assaulted opposition councillors. Police have registered a case against Shishir for assault and “interference with government business” based on a complaint by councillor Jeet Kumar. The accused remains absconding, The Indian Express reported.

The July 11 meeting, convened by Mayor Sahu to push through contentious proposals, quickly spiralled into chaos. Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar objected, stating the projects were on hold as they allegedly favoured private interests. When Sahu insisted on their approval, Parashar walked out, triggering a heated exchange between the mayor and officials.

According to The Indian Express, Shishir entered the meeting with bouncers, escalating tensions. Opposition councillors protested his presence, as he holds no official position in the PMC. A verbal spat with former deputy mayor Vinay Kumar soon turned physical, with Shishir allegedly attacking councillors opposing his mother.

Parashar later urged Patna District Magistrate Thyagarajan S M to bar Shishir from future meetings. Police revealed Shishir, who claims BJP affiliations, has a criminal record with at least four cases, including attempted murder and intimidation.

Critics allege Mayor Sahu is “remote-controlled” by her son, citing previous instances where Shishir attended PMC meetings with armed guards and interfered in civic work. Some councillors have written to the DM and Parashar seeking a ban on his entry.

Shishir, reportedly eyeing an Assembly seat, appears to be building a political profile. In a video statement, he identified himself as a “member of the state BJP working committee” and a “representative of the mayor,” vowing to fight corruption. “I am not guilty just because a case has been filed,” he asserted.

While BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma urged a “fair trial,” Congress’s Gyan Ranjan Gupta accused the BJP of shielding Shishir. “While he is posting videos claiming he is in Patna, police are yet to arrest him. What is stopping police?” he questioned, as reported by The Indian Express.

Patna SSP Kartikeya Sharma denied laxity, stating a raid was conducted at Sahu’s residence on July 13. The operation sparked protests by Sahu’s supporters, who accused authorities of political vendetta. “The mayor did not fully cooperate,” the SSP said, adding further investigation is underway.

With PMC’s 75 councillors officially unaffiliated to any party, the incident underscores deepening tensions in Patna’s civic governance. Meanwhile, police have formed a special team to arrest Shishir.

According to The Times of India, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya K Sharma said Shishir’s firearm licence will be revoked and weapons of his bodyguards will be verified. The accused has at least four prior cases, including attempted murder and intimidation, registered across Patna in the last two years.