Mohammad Shahabuddin surrenders, says he respects the judiciary

On Friday, the Supreme Court set aside the Patna High Court order granting bail to controversial RJD leader Shahabuddin in a murder case. The apex court ordered that either the gangster-turned-politician should surrender or Bihar Police should take him in custody “forthwith”. Minutes later, he surrendered before the Siwan district court in Bihar and was sent to jail, reported ANI. “I don’t care about what people say. I respect the judiciary,” he said.

He also said that he stands by what he said about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. “My supporters will show them in the upcoming elections,” he added. A bench comprising Justice PC Ghose and Amitava Roy directed the state government and the lower court to ensure that the trial in the Rajiv Roshan murder case is concluded “expeditiously as contemplated under the law”. Meanwhile, the court issued notice to Shahabuddin and Bihar government on another plea seeking cancellation of bail granted to him in a murder case of two brothers of Roshan. Shahabuddin has been awarded life imprisonment in the twin murder case and the Patna High Court had granted him bail in this matter as well.

The apex court, which on Thursday reserved its verdict on two appeals challenging the grant of bail to him by the Patna High Court, had rebuked Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, which has RJD as its coalition partner, for its lax approach in opposing the bail granted to the RJD strongman in various cases at different judicial forums including the High Court. A 7 September order of the Patna High Court had granted bail to Shahabuddin and he was released on 10 September from the Bhagalpur jail. Chandrakeshwar Prasad’s three sons — third one being Rajiv Roshan — were killed allegedly by Shahabuddin’s henchmen. Rajiv Roshan, who was the sole witness to the killings of his brothers, was allegedly killed by Shahabuddin’s henchmen, including his son Osama. Prashant Bhushan, senior advocate who had filed one of the petitions against Shahabuddin, said on Friday, “Will move another petition asking Mohammad Shahabuddin be moved to a jail outside Bihar and trial to be through video conferencing.” Shahabuddin, a former lawmaker, was a controversial leader in Lalu Prasad’s party RJD and is accused of over 40 cases of murder, extortion and kidnapping.

When Shahabuddin was set out on bail, the opposition in Bihar had accused CM Nitish Kumar of buckling under the influence of Lalu Prasad and facilitating Shahabuddin’s release. Bhushan, who had filed one of the petitions, on Thursday argued before the apex court that Shahabuddin did not follow any rules and walked out of jail at will. With inputs from agencies