CBI clears Tej Pratap Yadav in scribe murder case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cleared Tej Pratap Yadav, son of RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, in a case involving the murder of journalist Rajdev Ranjan.

Ranjan, a scribe who worked for a Hindi daily, was murdered in May 2017 in Siwan, Bihar. Tej Pratap, former state health minister, was linked to his death when a picture of him posing with murder accused Mohammad Kaif and Mohammad Javed surfaced.

The CBI, however, clarified the issue and submitted that the photo appeared to have been taken before the murder. Other photographs that surfaced showed Kaif and Javed with Mohammad Shahabuddin, a Bihar strongman and politician, who has been implicated in the murder and is currently in jail.

Dismissing the allegation, Tej Pratap had submitted, "They (the BJP) bring some photograph from somewhere and make some false allegations. How would I know who is a shooter from the 1,000 people who click photos with me?"

The Supreme Court had ordered the CBI to look into the matter after the journalist's wife Asha sought the case to be transferred to Delhi. She feared for her life and suggested that influential people appeared to be involved in this matter.

Issuing notice, the top court had sent a notice to Tej Pratap seeking an explanation behind the photo.

However, on Thursday, in dismissing the case, the top court directed Asha to approach the high court in case she found any new evidence.