Siwan jail raided after ex-MP Shahabuddin photos go viral

PATNA: A new profile picture of former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, currently lodged in divisional jail of Siwan, has gone viral on the social media, prompting the authorities to raid the prison.

A raiding team recovered four cell phones, three SIM cards and two batteries from three prisoners late on Saturday.

A case had been lodged with Muffasil police station against Anil Singh, Bharat Singh and Masum Khan-on the basis of the statement of superintendent of jail, Vidhu Bhardwaj after recovery of mobile from theor possession. Undertrial prisoner Anil is a resident of Barharia police station, Masum is from Basantpur (both Siwan district) while Bharat is from Thave of Gopalganj district.

In the photograph, the controversial RJD leader is seen in a new get up with tonsured head, trimmed moustache and wearing an over coat and necktie. Close aides of Shahabuddin disclosed that he was spotted in luxuriant hair and grown moustache in the past.

Prison authorities claimed that the photograph of Shahabuddin was shot outside the jail. A petition seeking his shifting to the high-security Tihar jail in New Delhi has been pending with the Supreme Court and is scheduled for hearing on January 17.

According to Bhardwaj, the raid in prison premises is a routine affair. He said that the officials conducted searches in four wards and found the illegal articles. He refused to provide details about the raid in Shahabuddin’s ward.

Earlier on May 22, after the murder of Hindustan hindi newspaper’s scribe Rajdeo Ranjan, Siwan police had seized 17 mobiles phones and 20 SIM cards. The raid came days after former MP Shahabuddin- whose role in the case is under the scanner- and seven of his alleged supporters, were shifted from the district jail.

During an earlier search, police had questioned 63 visitors who were on the jail premises to meet Shahabuddin.