Supreme Court to hear petitions challenging Shahabuddin's bail

The Supreme Court will on Monday hear petitions challenging the Patna High Court's order to grant bail to former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) parliamentarian Shahabuddin.

The top court had on September 19 issued a notice to Shahabuddin while hearing pleas of the Bihar Government and Chandrakeshwar Prasad against the bail granted to him. The Bihar Government had earlier filed an appeal before the apex court, challenging the Patna High Court's order of granting bail to Shahabuddin.

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan had also challenged the Patna High Court order of granting bail to the RJD strongman. The petition has been filed by Bhushan on behalf of the victim's family, which was upset to see Shahabuddin walk free.

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.