Judge Feels ‘Unsafe’ After Shahabuddin’s Bail, Seeks Transfer

Supreme Court is hearing a plea seeking cancellation of RJD leader Mohammad Shahabuddin’s bail.

File photo of former Rashtriya Janata Dal strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin (centre) with his armed gunmen. (Photo Courtesy: Vebidoo)

The judge who sentenced former RJD MP Shahabuddin to life imprisonment was transferred from Siwan just two days after Shahabuddin received bail from the Patna High Court in another murder case.

Apparently, this transfer was sought by the judge, Ajay Kumar Shrivastava himself as he felt unsafe following Shahabuddin’s release. His security has been tightened and the High Court, taking cognizance of his request, has issued a notification for his transfer to Patna.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had refused to stay Patna High Court’s order regarding bail to former RJD MP Shahabuddin. The matter will now be heard in court on 26 September.

A high alert was sounded in Bihar’s Siwan district, hours ahead of the Supreme Court’s hearing on Monday on a plea by the state government seeking cancellation of RJD leader Mohammad Shahabuddin’s bail, officials said.

The plea was filed by a resident of Siwan, along with the state, against the bail granted on 10 September to Shahabuddin as he might misuse his liberty to derail the trial in a case.

High alert was sounded and heavy deployment of security forces was made following an intelligence report that warned of possible law and order situation if Shahabuddin’s bail was cancelled, reported a district administration official.

The petitioner, Chandrakeshwar Prasad, alias Chanda Babu in his petition had alleged that his life was in danger following the release of Shahabuddin, who was earlier convicted for the murder of his two sons.

The Patna High Court had released Shahabuddin as the trial for the murder of Prasad’s third son had not yet started.

Prasad had alleged that all his three sons were murdered at the behest of the strongman-turned politician, who is also the main accused in the murder of his third son.

The Bihar government had also moved the apex court against the Patna High Court’s order granting bail to Shahabuddin, shortly after the Supreme Court had agreed to hear a plea by Prasad.

Justice Jitendra Mohan Sharma of the Patna High Court had on 7 September granted bail to Shahabuddin, who was released from Bhagalpur Jail on 10 September after spending 11 years in prison.

(With inputs from The Times of India)

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