Shahabuddin granted bail in Arms Act

Patna, Jan 5 (UNI) Patna High Court today granted bail to jailed RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin in connection with a case registered under the Arms Act.

Justice Mridula Mishra granted bail to Mohammad Shahabuddin, accepting the plea of his counsel that the RJD MP was in jail in connection with the case for more than one year, while the trial was yet to be completed despite the directive issued earlier by the Patna High Court.

''While rejecting the bail petition, earlier moved by the RJD MP in March 2006 in connection with this case, the same bench had directed to complete the trial within six months,'' the counsel of the petitioner submitted adding Mohammad Shahabuddin should be granted bail as he had already spent more than one year and two months in jail.

The prosecution vociferously opposed the arguments of the petitioner saying the RJD MP had criminal antecedents and he was facing several cases of serious nature.

The case was registered against the RJD MP after one contrymade pistol and several live cartridges were recovered from his residence at Pratapur in Siwan district in April 2005.

Mohammad Shahabuddin, however, would continue to remain behind the bar as he has been denied bail in connection with other cases pending against him.

UNI