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More embarrassment for Nitish Kumar as jailed ex-MLA canvasses support for his rally

Munna Shukla of the JD(U) distributed pamphlets in a Muzaffarpur court appealing to people to participate in the chief minister's "Adhikar Yatra". After a hue and cry by the opposition, six police officers were suspended.

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Jailed former legislator Munna Shukla of the ruling Janata Dal (United) today distributed pamphlets appealing to people to participate in chief minister Nitish Kumar's "Adhikar Yatra".

After a hue and cry was raised by the opposition, six police officers — one sub-inspector and five constables — were suspended in this connection.

Muzaffarpur senior superintendent of police Rajesh Kumar ordered the suspensions and initiated an inquiry into the incident.

JD-U leaders said the law would take its course and action would be initiated against Shukla.

The pamphlets were distributed within the court premises at Muzaffarpur, where Munna Shukla was brought for a hearing, police said.

Shukla, whose wife Annu Shukla is a JD(U) legislator, is lodged in Muzaffarpur Jail, about 70km from the state capital.

Only last week, Shukla made news when he called up the director of an engineering college demanding a 'donation' of Rs7 crore for the "Adhikar Yatra" of the chief minister.

Shukla, however, denied today that he demanded a donation.

Shukla, who faces several criminal cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion and abduction, is serving a life sentence that came with conviction in the murder of a minister.

The gangster, who was brought to the court in handcuffs, distributed pamphlets in Hindi appealing to people to attend the "Adhikar" rallies of Nitish Kumar. He also requested the people gathered at the court to join the rally, even as policemen looked on.

Shukla told those willing to hear him that he considered himself unfortunate since he was not free to attend the rally.

JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar quickly clarified that Munna Shukla had nothing to do with the party.

Last week, a fresh case was lodged against Shukla after it was found that he had made an extortion call to Santlal Yadav, director of the Patna Sahib Group of Colleges, from jail.

None other than additional director general of police Gupteshwar Pandey admitted that Shukla had made the call from behind bars. Four mobile phones were later found in his cell.

A local court, over two years ago, sentenced Shukla to life imprisonment in the sensational murder of former Bihar minister Brij Bihari Prasad on June 13, 1998.

Shukla had earlier been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2007 in the case of the 1994 murder of an Indian Administrative Service officer, G. Krishnaiya. In that case, he was later acquitted by the Patna high court.

Krishnaiya, a 1985 batch officer of the Bihar cadre, was shot and then stoned by a mob near Muzaffarpur town on December 5, 1994.

The Adhikar Yatra of the chief minister is meant to mobilise public support for the government's bid to pressure the central government to provide special status to Bihar, with which the state could get additional funds for economic development.

This is the first time Nitish Kumar is holding a party rally in Patna since coming to power in November 2005.

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