Bihar officials remove wall after encroachment allegations against Maithili Thakur's family

Darbhanga: Bihar authorities have demolished a boundary wall constructed by the family of BJP MLA and folk singer Maithili Thakur after finding that it encroached upon a government road in Darbhanga district. Thakur has rejected the allegations, saying the construction was part of a home intended for public hearings in her constituency.

The action was taken in Pokharbhinda village under Tardih block after several villagers approached the local circle officer, alleging encroachment on a government road, private plots, land associated with the village deity 'Tiwari Baba', the Radhakrishna temple, a collective shraddhasthal and a drain.

Revenue officials measured the disputed site in the presence of complainants and residents. Following verification, they found that a portion of the government road had been encroached upon by a boundary wall built by Thakur's family. The administration then removed the structure and restored public access to the road.

Deputy Collector Land Reforms Ajay Kumar and Circle Officer Alok Kumar visited the village with a team on Thursday to conduct the measurement. "Encroachment on the government road was found during the initial measurement and has been removed immediately," Kumar said.

He added that other complainants have been asked to appear before the circle office on Saturday, where their documents and grievances will be examined before any further action is taken. Allegations concerning private land are still under examination, while the complaint related to temple land falls within Madhubani district, where villagers have been advised to approach the local administration.

One complainant, Gagan Kumar Mishra of Pokharbhinda, alleged in an application dated November 7 that Thakur's father, Ramesh, had encroached upon 3 decimals of his land. Mishra further claimed that when he sought the removal of the alleged encroachment, he was threatened with false cases. He has sought an inspection of the plots, restoration of possession and removal of the alleged encroachment.

The matter was also reportedly brought to the notice of the Chief Minister's Office and registered on the state government's Sahyog portal.

Rejecting the accusations, Thakur called them "completely baseless" and said she possessed all relevant documents. She said anyone with concerns could approach the local circle officer or the Deputy Collector Land Reforms.

Thakur said a house was being built in Pokharbhinda, part of her Alinagar constituency, with the support of village elders. She said the construction was intended to serve as a venue for public hearings and to keep her accessible to constituents. "There is no such problem. Completely baseless rumours are being spread," she said, adding that those making the allegations should produce evidence.

The issue has quickly taken on political colour. Rashtriya Janata Dal working president and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav alleged that Maithili Thakur and her father had illegally occupied government land, a public road, a collective shraddhasthal and private plots in Tardih block.

He further alleged that legislators belonging to the ruling National Democratic Alliance were "looting the public" and questioned what Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had to say on the matter. Taking a swipe at Thakur, Tejashwi referred to her earlier Assembly speech on Bihar's pre-2005 era, saying she was now "singing bhajans in Mangal Raj" while allegedly encroaching on government and villagers' land.

Tejashwi's elder brother, Jan Shakti Janata Dal national president Tej Pratap Yadav, demanded an impartial, transparent and high-level inquiry into the allegations against Ramesh Thakur. "The law should be equal for everyone. No person can be kept away from investigation on the basis of political identity, popularity or influence," he said.

Maithili Thakur, who rose to fame as a folk and bhajan singer before entering politics, won the Alinagar seat in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, becoming the state's youngest MLA at 25.