CBI Names Shahabuddin As Accused In Siwan Journalist Murder Case:- Former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP and strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin, has been named as an accused by the CBI in the murder case of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan.
The journalist was murdered on 13 May 2016. The Hindi daily Hindustan’s Siwan bureau chief Ranjan (42) was shot dead at Phal Mandi near Siwan station, barely half a km away from Town police station. Two bullets hit Ranjan— one on his forehead and the other, his neck.
The four-time RJD MP from Siwan, Shahabuddin is the 10th accused in the case. As per the CBI’s special court order, he was produced in the court of Special Judge Anupam Kumari through video-conferencing facility.
Within a few days of the murder, five persons were arrested in connection with the case. Bihar Police ADGP Sunil Kumar had said the five men were engaged by contract killer Laddan Mian, known to be close to the RJD leader. However, no evidence could be found directly linking Shahabuddin with the murder. After the murder, Ranjan’s elder brother Kalicharan, had said “Everyone can guess who the killer is, but who can name him? Let there be a CBI probe. We have little trust in the Grand Alliance government”.
On May 22, the CBI Special court had issued the production warrant against Shahabuddin on the petition of CBI to produce him through video-conferencing for trial. An application was also filed by the CBI on the same day for making Shahabuddin as an accused in the case.
The CBI counsel submitted that it would soon file a charge-sheet against Shahabuddin. The former RJD MP is currently lodged in high-security Tihar jail in the national capital. A charge sheet has already been registered against seven accused persons in the case. The two accused persons- Mohammad Javed and Mohammad Kaif- are on bail.
In February this year, on a Supreme Court order on a plea by Siwan native Chandrakeshwar Prasad, Shahabuddin is facing trial in more than 45 criminal cases and was moved to Tihar Jail. In a mysterious state, Prasad’s three sons were killed in two separate incidents.
The Special court fixed June 9 as the next date for production of Shahabuddin in the case.
A postgraduate who also held a law degree, Ranjan started his journalistic career with Hindustan nearly 16 years ago as a stringer from Siwan. He later became a staff member. He took over as the newspaper’s Siwan bureau chief about seven years ago.
Ranjan had covered Siwan politics and crime extensively and had penned several reports on court proceedings against Shahabuddin.
SUPRAJA
