CBI takes custody of ex-MP Shahabuddin

THE FORMER MP WAS, ON MAY 26, NAMED AS ONE OF THE 10 ACCUSED IN THE MURDER OF RANJAN, WHO HAILED FROM BIHAR’S SIWAN

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday took custody of former RJD MP Mohammed Shahabuddin in connection with the murder of Bihar-based journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, an official said.

Shahabuddin is now lodged in the Tihar Jail in New Delhi.

The former MP was, on May 26, named one of the 10 accused in the murder of Ranjan, who hailed from Bihar’s Siwan district, by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The CBI is preparing to file a chargesheet on the basis of evidence collected by it, official sources said.

The case was handed over to the CBI in September last year after the slain journalist’s widow Asha Ranjan and his father Radhe Krishna Chaudhary repeatedly alleged that Shahabuddin was behind the murder.

The suspicion over Shahbuddin’s involvement deepened after names of two of his henchmen, Mohammad Kaif and Mohammad Javed, surfaced during investigation.

A chargesheet has been filed against six of the accused. Javed and Kaif are on bail and Shahabuddin has been made the 10th accused. Police in Bihar had earlier claimed that the murder was the result of “premediated conspiracy”. Sources claimed that the slain journalist had become a “threat” for criminals because of his news reports against the deteriorating law and order condition in Siwan.

Shahabuddin was in jail when the journalist was gunned down in Siwan while returning from office on May 13, 2016. refused to take him to Dronagiri, citing Director General of Civil Aviation regulations.

The minister was taken aback by pilot’s refusal. “This is not done when my programme was finalised almost 15 days ago. Why this fuss now?” he demanded to know.

Maharaj said the incidents sent a “wrong message” to the masses and demanded an investigation into the “civil aviation department’s behaviour so that nothing similar repeats in the future”.

Political gossip about a rift within the two-month-old BJP government flew over the helicopter drama. The reason was not hard to attribute as Maharaj switched from the Congress in 2014 and was the front-runner for the chief minister’s post before the state assembly polls earlier this year.

He was not chosen after the BJP’s landslide victory, but given a cabinet berth.

Maharaj is spiritual leader with a large fan following across states. So is younger brother, Bhole Maharaj, though the siblings reportedly have a strained relationship.

The previous Congress government gave VIP treatment to Bhole Maharaj and he continues to enjoy the privileges after the BJP came to power.

The grapevines were abuzz already with former Congressman and cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat’s praise to two former chief ministers Ramesh Pokhriyal of the BJP and Harish Rawat of the Congress a few days ago. The remarks were viewed as a slur on the incumbent chief minister, Trivendra Rawat. To make matters worse, Maharaj’s letter added fuel to the fire.

Government spokesperson Madan Kaushik dismissed the allegations of a rift, saying Maharaj has raised a point and the “government will look into it”.