SC asks Shahabuddin to place copies of arms licences

New Delhi, Jan 8 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed controversial RJD Lok Sabha member from Siwan Mohammad Shahabuddin to place on record the copies of the licences of arms he is having within two weeks.

Addressing the counsel for the petitioner, a Bench comprising Justices A R Lakshmanan and Altamas Kabir said, '' There are 52 criminal cases pending against the petitioner and six of them are under the Arms Act, which is not normal.'' ''The MP from Bihar is having arms which only the Army can have such as bullet proof jacket, night vision device, telescopic device and one thousand live cartridges,'' it added.

The court also asked the petitioner that ''you being a public servant and an MP, why do you need so much arms and ammunition?'' To which the counsel for the petitioner said, ''his client has licences for these arms and ammunition, and he was under a threat from CPI (ML).'' The counsel also said his client was having a hunch that this court may not grant bail to him. The court took exception to the remarks and responded, '' this court does not grant bail on hunch, but on merits.'' The court also directed the Bihar government to place on record the copies of the FIR registered against the Siwan MP.

Shahabuddin also claimed befor the court that out of 52 cases he has been granted bail in all other cases except six under the Arms Act. The MP had come in appeal against the Patna High Court order vide which his bail application was rejected.

UNI