Patna, Oct 23 (IANS): A jailed Bihar legislator, who is contesting the state assembly polls from behind the bars, was booked on Friday for threatening a police official, police said.

Manoj Tiwari, Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Barh in Patna district, lodged a police complaint against Anant Singh who is at present lodged in Bhagalpur Central Jail, for threatening him over telephone.

Tiwari in his complaint said that Anant Singh threatened him to give a free hand to his supporters during the ongoing campaigning and not to disturb them if they violate the model code of conduct.

Anant Singh joined the fray as an independent candidate from his stronghold Mokamah assembly constituency after a court here gave him permission early this month to contest the polls.

In June, Singh was arrested in connection with a kidnapping-cum-murder case.

He belongs to powerful Bhumihar caste, which has played an influential role in Bihar's politics and economy for decades.

Last month, Singh, known as "Chhote Sarkar" for his muscle and money power, resigned from the ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U).

The JD-U has fielded its spokesperson Neeraj Kumar from Mokamah.

The polls to the 243-member Bihar assembly will take place in five phases between October 12 and November 5. The counting of votes is slated for November 8.