Gopalganj District Magistrate-cum-District Election Officer K K Pathak has served show-cause notices on Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi's brother Sadhu Yadav and three others following complaints from various political parties that they posed a threat to the free, fair and peaceful conduct of assembly polls in Bihar.

Pathak asked Sadhu Yadav, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Amrendra Kumar Pandey, alias Pappu Pandey, Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate Kiran Devi from Ketya constituency and Lok Janshakti Party's Kali Prasad Pandey to appear before his court in person or through a lawyer on February 18 and give explanation regarding the allegations.

The notices were served as per provisions of the Bihar Control of Crimes Ordinance, 1978.

Sadhu Yadav is a member of Parliament from Gopalganj, the home district of Rabri Devi and RJD chief Lalu Prasad. Assembly polls will be held in the constituency on February 23 in the third and final phase of the exercise in the state.

Sadhu Yadav is in the constituency to supervise his wife Indira Yadav's election campaign. Indira is contesting as an Independent after the RJD denied her a ticket.

BJP's Pandey, who is a Zila Parishad chairman, and LJP's Kali Pandey are known for their criminal backgrounds.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has ordered the arrest of an independent candidate from Jale assembly seat in Darbhanga.

The district administration officials said the EC's order came in the wake of complaints that the candidate was threatening voters to vote for him or face dire consequences.