Bihar opposes transfer of murder case of Siwan journalist to Delhi

NEW DELHI: The Bihar government has opposed before the Supreme Court the transfer of trial in a case relating to the murder of Siwan journalist Rajdeo Ranjan from the state to a court in Delhi.

In an affidavit filed before the apex court, the Nitish Kumar government said the transfer of the case was not required as it has already accepted the victim’s wife request to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Bihar has promised to assist the CBI in its probe and also assured police protection to the victim’s family and witnesses.

Last month, the Supreme Court had issued notices to RJD leader Shahabuddin, Bihar health minister Tej Pratap Yadav and the Bihar government in connection with Ranjan’s murder.

The court had asked the CBI to proceed with the investigation of the scribe’s murder and directed Bihar police to provide protection to his wife, Asha Ranjan, and her family.

The apex court has directed the CBI to file a status report on October 17, the next date of hearing. Asha had moved the apex court seeking transfer of the probe and trial to Delhi, alleging that media reports had showed two ‘absconding killers’ of her husband allegedly in the company of Shahabuddin and Tej Pratap Yadav.

According to her plea, Shahabuddin was the brain behind her husband’s death. But police did not name him in the FIR. The plea said Shahabuddin was irked over reports by Ranjan on a murder case in which he was convicted and awarded a life term.

Ranjan, who worked for 20 years for Hindi daily Hindustan, one of Bihar’s largest circulating newspapers, was shot dead on May 13 in Siwan.

IN AN AFFIDAVIT BEOFRE THE SC, NITISH GOVT SAID IT HAS ALREADY ACCEPTED THE REQUEST FROM THE VICTIM’S

WIFE TO TRANSFER

THE CASE TO CBI