Relief for Tej Pratap, SC closes proceedings against Lalu's son in journalist murder case

The Supreme Court on Thursday closed proceeding against Tej Pratap, son of RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, in a journalist murder case.

The top court considered Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) statement that it did not find any material against the former Bihar health minister.

Earlier, the apex court had sought the CBI's response on its probe relating to news reports showing photographs and videos showing former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav, son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, along with a suspect accused of killing journalist Rajdev Ranjan.

The top court had asked the ASG if the CBI had investigated press reports that carried photographs and videos showing Yadav, then health minister, and Mohd Kaif and Mohd Javed, both suspects in the case who are currently in judicial custody.

The journalist, who worked with a regional daily, was shot dead on the evening of May 13 in Siwan town by some gunman allegedly at the instance of then jailed RJD leader, the plea alleged.

Despite being named by the family of the journalist, the Siwan police did not name Shahabuddin in the FIR as a key conspirator, it alleged.

It also alleged that the RJD leader was irked over some reports by the slain journalist on the issue of murder of three sons of Chandrakeshwar Prasad.

Shahabuddin was awarded life term in one of the cases.