SC issues notices to Shahabuddin, Bihar govt, Centre over plea seeking his shifting from Siwan to Tihar

During the last hearing in the case on October 17, the court had directed the CBI to complete the Rajdeo Ranjan murder probe within three months.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to former RJD MP Mohammad Sahahabuddin, Bihar state government and Union government on a plea seeking to shift him from Siwan to Tihar jail in Delhi.

Filed by Asha Ranjan, wife of slain journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, the plea has sought that Sahabuddin be shifted from Siwan district jail to Tihar Jail in Delhi as he may influence witnesses in her husband`s murder case, killed in Siwan on May 13.

During the last hearing in the case on October 17, an apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Mishra had directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to complete the murder probe within three months.

The apex court also issued notices and sought responses from Shahabuddin and Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav.

During the last hearing, Tej Pratap had admitted that he had accepted a bouquet from one of the murder accused, but denied his involvement in the murder.

Ranjan (42), the bureau chief of The Hindustan, was shot dead in July this year at Phal Mandi near the Siwan railway station, barely half-a-kilometer from the police station.

The Bihar government has recommended the CBI probe into the case.The case came into limelight again after a photograph appeared in the media showing murder suspects Mohammad Kaif and Mohammad Javed with gangster-politician Mohammed Shahabuddin after his release from jail.

Kaif, however, later rubbished all accusations against him and said he has no involvement in Rajdeo`s murder case.Meanwhile, a separate petition filed by Chandrakeshwar Prasad, whose three sons had been murdered at the behest of the RJP leader, will also come up for hearing before the same bench today. 

With ANI inputs