Ex-Bihar police chief joins JD(U)

Patna: Former Bihar police chief Gupteshwar Pandey, who took voluntary retirement from service a few days ago, joined the state's ruling JD(U) on Sunday.

Pandey, an outspoken police officer, joined the party in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also the JD(U) president.

The 1987 batch IPS officer had strongly defended Kumar on the issue of institution of a CBI probe into the mysterious death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. He has been critical of the Mumbai Police in matters pertaining to the investigation. He had also sparked a controversy by saying that actor Rhea Chakraborty didn't have the "stature" to comment on CM Nitish Kumar.

Ever since he took VRS weeks before the October- November assembly elections, there was speculation that he could take the political plunge.

"Nitish Kumar ji personally called me and offered party membership with great love. I accepted it," Pandey said.

"I don't know anything about politics. I will do what I am asked to do," he told reporters.

Speculation is rife that he may be offered ticket to contest the assembly election from a seat in his native Buxar district.