The Supreme Court on Monday snubbed controversial RJD leader Mohammad Shahabuddin by refusing to allow him any time beyond 48 hours to respond to appeals challenging his bail.
Shahabuddin, who was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 7, had hired the services of ace criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani to defend his bail before the apex court. A set of two private appeals followed by another by the Bihar Government had challenged his bail apprehending that his presence will intimidate witnesses in trials which are still pending against the goon-turned politician from Siwan.
The Bench of Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitava Roy asked Shahabuddin to be ready with his defence by Wednesday. Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, who appeared for the controversial leader, requested the matter to be shifted to Friday but the SC refused.
Pointing to the urgency involved in the hearing of the case, the court said, “Since allegations and counter allegations have been made in this matter, we do not wish to prolong the matter further. How many witnesses have been bumped off in this matterIJ”
Naphade told the court that the media frenzy in cases involving his client amounted to media trial. On the other hand, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for a father whose three sons were eliminated at the behest of Shahabuddin, urged the court to consider the long list of 45 cases pending against the dreaded gangster.
“Every passing day, he (Shahabuddin) poses a serious threat to witnesses.”
Naphade countered it by asking the court to question the delay on part of petitioner in challenging the bail granted to his client. Showing records, he said that against the bail order of September 7, the petitioners came to court only on September 16. He even presented to the SC a social media post by Bhushan making scathing remarks against the Patna High Court that granted bail. “They are self-proclaimed guardians of public morality who are now questioning me.”
The Bench said that it will focus only on arguments made in the court and will ensure “to strike a balance” by hearing both parties. The SC Bench, which adjourned the hearing till September 28, denied further time by acceding to the plea of lawyer Prashant Bhushan, representing Chandrakeshwar Prasad who lost his three sons in two separate crimes, that the man in question was a threat to other remaining witnesses.
Even the Bihar Government said that the case required urgent consideration as in the present petition before the court, there is only one eyewitness who is the elderly father. The Bench further made it clear that no interim stay will be granted against the order granting bail. The petitions will be heard and decided as fast as possible, the court added.
