New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to RJD strongman and former MP Mohammad Shahabuddin on why he should not be transferred from Siwan jail in Bihar to Tihar Jail in Delhi and face trial in various cases through video-conferencing.
The notice was issued on the plea by two persons on threat to their life if he remains in Siwan. The Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy was hearing two separate petitions by Chandrakeshwar Prasad, whose three sons were killed by Shahabuddin’s gang, and another by Asha Ranjan, widow of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan who was shot dead on May 13.
Chandrakeshwar Prasad’s two sons were abducted and gruesomely murdered with acid thrown on them while his third son Rajiv Roshan, the lone eye-witness of his two brothers’ murder, was killed just two days before he was to give evidence against Shahabuddin in the case.
The CBI, which has been asked by the Supreme Court to complete investigations within three months, on Monday submitted a status report of its investigations.
The court was told that Shahabuddin operates from the Siwan jail as a motivator in the crimes because of which the victims of 45 cases against him would face incurable hazard and jeopardy unless he shifted to the Delhi jail. Except for one case of Jharkhand, all other pending cases against him relate to Bihar.
“When a person goes beyond the bounds of law and becomes a history-sheeter, the Court is required to pass appropriate orders as a societal necessity,” said senior counsel Dushyant Dave appearing for both the petitioners.
He cited a precedent of Lok Sabha MP Rajesh Ranjan aka Pappu Yadav who on the direction of top court was moved from Bihar jail to Tihar Jail and his trial was held through video conferencing.
