Bihar government files petition in SC challenging former RJD MP Shahabuddin's bail

After facing criticism from the Opposition parties, Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government on Friday filed a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the Patna High Court's order of granting bail to gangster-turned politician Mohammad Shahabuddin.

"An appeal in the Supreme Court challenging Patna High Court's order granting bail to the Former RJD MP Shahabuddin," reported ANI.

Meanwhile, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan also filed a petition in the Supreme Court for the cancellation of bail to Shahabuddin.

Shahabuddin, who had been in jail for more than 10 years in connection with multiple cases, was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 7 in connection with the murder of a man who witnessed the killing of two brothers in Siwan.

Shahabuddin's release from jail evoked widespread criticism of the grand alliance in the state with the opposition accusing the government of paving way for his release by not opposing the bail strongly in the court.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had on Thursday demanded the immediate arrest of Shahabuddin and accused the former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) parliamentarian of being the main conspirator in the murder of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said that sharpshooter Mohammad Kaif is one of the accused in the murder of Ranjan and is the close aide of Shahabuddin. He demanded that that the former parliamentarian should be removed from the party.

However, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said that law will take its own course in Shahabuddin's case. 

(With ANI inputs)