New Delhi: Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, an independent MP from Bihar, was today (March 13, 2004) sent to two-day judicial custody after being arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) late last night in a case pertaining to murder of trade of union leader and MLA Ajit Sarkar.

Ranjan, whose bail was cancelled by the Supreme Court yesterday, was produced before a duty magistrate who ordered him to be sent to Tihar prison till March 15, CBI sources said.

They said that the former MP would be produced before a CBI judge on March 15 for being sent to judicial custody.

The apex court while cancelling his bail yesterday had directed the CBI to take him into custody immediately.

Soon after the court's order, Yadav got himself admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences ostensibly for a ruptured artery in one of his legs. However, AIIMS discharged him soon after the CBI arrested him.

Yadav alongwith five others were charged with the murder of Sarkar, who was an MLA from Purnia district. Political rivalry between Yadv and Sarkar was alleged to be the motive of the murder.

Besides Yadav, Ranjan Tiwari and four others were also booked by the CBI in connection with the murder. All the six fought elections from the jail. While Yadav was elected as an MP, rest all made it to the Bihar State Assembly.