Mohd Kaif Defends Himself After Being Spotted With Shahabuddin

Police said Shahabuddin will be questioned for his association with absconding suspects of Rajdeo Ranjan’s murder.

Bihar’s wanted shooter Mohammad Kaif (L) with former RJD MP Shahabuddin (R). (Photo: The Quint)

Tuesday’s controversy over photos of dreaded criminal Mohammad Kaif spotted with former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin escalated on Wednesday after pictures of Kaif with Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son Tej Pratap Yadav also did the rounds.

Kaif then came out to defend himself saying that he has been “framed” and there is a “political conspiracy” to “malign” his character.

Kaif is one of the accused in the murder case of journalist Rajdev Ranjan. Mohammad Javed and Mohammad Kaif are wanted in connection with conspiracy against Ranjan on 9 May and the two remained at large before being seen with Mohammad Shahabuddin on his way home from Bhagalpur jail after his release last Saturday.

Defending himself on the same, he said:

“Siwan public, journalists know that I am not a criminal. Rajdev Ranjan had good relations with me, he was also present at my wedding.”

On being asked why he was seen with Shahabuddin, he replied cautiously:

I went as a supporter, I had even asked my lawyer for advice before I went there.

Meanwhile, on being questioned by the media, Tej Pratap said that it is impossible to remember everyone who takes picture with him.

These developments come after Siwan Police said on Tuesday that it will serve a notice and question Shahabuddin in connection with the two absconding suspects in the Rajdev Ranjan case being part of his cavalcade, after his release from Bhagalpur jail following 11 years of imprisonment.

The photo has already raised eyebrows with political parties condemning Nitish’s government for its inability to nab the absconding shooter.

We have taken notice of photographs of suspect Mohammad Kaif and Mohammad Javed appearing in newspapers and video footage in the carcade of Shahabuddin from Bhagalpur to Siwan and hectic search is on for them.

Saurav Kumar Sah

Shahabuddin, a member of the RJD National Committee, is known to be close to the RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. He has also said that he has never enjoyed good relations with Nitish.

After Nitish’s government assumed office in 2005, several cases against Shahabuddin were reopened and he was sent to jail.

Shahabuddin received a reprieve on Wednesday when the Patna High Court granted him bail in the case of a murder of a witness to the 2004 killing of two brothers in Siwan.

(With agency inputs.)