Shahabuddin brought to Patna on way to Tihar

Two days after the Supreme Court ordered the shifting of former RJD strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin from Bihar's Siwan jail to Delhi's Tihar Central Jail, he was brought to Patna on Saturday amidst tight security.

He will be taken to Delhi by the Rajdhani Express on Saturday evening, the police said.

Shahabuddin, is a criminal turned politician and locally known as 'Bahubali'. He faces 35 criminal cases including murder, extortion, kidnapping and has been convicted in seven.

"Process to shift Shahabuddin from Siwan jail to Tihar jail began late Friday night with a team of special task force (STF) along with top district administration officials brought him to Patna on way to Delhi," a district police officer said.

According to police officer here, Shahabuddin has been kept in Beur jail under tight security.

Hearing the petition of Asha Ranjan, wife of slain journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, the apex court on Wednesday ordered shifting Shahabuddin from Siwan to Tihar jail.

Asha, a contractual teacher in a government-run school in Siwan, in her petition feared a threat to her life if Shahabuddin remains in Siwan jail.

Rajdeo Ranjan was the Siwan Bureau Chief of Hindi newspaper Hindustan, which is part of the Hindustan Times Media company. He was shot dead in May last year.

Chandrakeshwar Prasad, father of three brothers allegedly killed at the instance of Shahabuddin, voiced his happiness at the development.

Last September after spending 11 years behind bars, Shahabuddin was released from Bihar's Bhagalpur jail and termed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad as his leader.

After the Patna High Court granted bail in a case related to the killing of a murder witness, he was finally released from prison.

But after 19 days, Shahabuddin surrendered in a court in Siwan district soon after the Supreme Court cancelled his bail, and was taken into custody and sent to Siwan jail.