RJD MP Shahabuddin shifted to Siwan jail

Bhagalpur, May 7 (UNI) RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin was today shifted to Siwan jail under the heavy security cover thrown by the Special Task Force (STF) and Commando force.

Official sources said here the MP was shifted from Bhagalpur central jail to enable the district administration to produce him in the court, specially constituted for the speedy trial of the cases involving him.

The decision to shift Shahabuddin from Bhagalpur jail triggered controversies as the District Magistrate of Siwan had apprehensions that his presence would lead to administrative problems, particularly in the coming Panchayat elections.

The DM, through a letter had apprised the state headquarter of possibile administrative problems.

However, sources at the state headquarter said the government was committed to complete the trial in all the cases involving Shahabuddin, who is facing over 40 criminal cases.

The controversial MP was externed from Siwan during the Assembly elections held in February and again in October-November. After his arrest from his native village Partapur in Siwan on April 24, 2004, in connection with a non-bailable arrest warrant issued against him in various criminal cases, Md Shahabuddin was shifted to Bahagalpur central jail from Siwan for six months.

The step was taken to avert any attempt by him to influence the polling during the Bihar Assembly elections held in October-November 2005.

The six-month term of Shahabuddin in Bhagalpur jail expired last night and he was taken to Siwan jail this morning amid tight security arrangements.

The RJD MP was arrested in November 2005, in New Delhi by a special team of Siwan police headed by a woman. Due to his political clout, Shahabuddin managed to escape on several occasions.

Earlier, eight cases were registered against him under various charges of Arms and Explosives Act, Wild Life Protection Act, Foreign currency Act and other charges, including pilfereage of electricity.

During a raid at his residence at Pratapur in 2005, Pakistan made sophisticated firearms, night vision device, foreign currencies, stolen vehicles, live deer and skin of deer were recovered.

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