When on Monday the Supreme Court will take up the petition challenging the bail granted by the Patna High Court to Mohammad Shahabuddin, the four time RJD MP from Siwan will be represented by senior most lawyer Ram Jethmalani.
Jethmalani, who is also Rajya Sabha member of RJD from Bihar, has agreed to fight Shahabuddin’s case. The apex court has served notice to RJD strongman, who has been released on bail on September 7, asking him why his bail should not be cancelled.
The first to take initiative moving for the cancellation of the bail in Supreme Court was noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan who petitioned on behalf of Chandrakeshwar Prasad of Siwan, whose three sons had been killed allegedly by the goons of Shahabuddin. After that the Bihar Government also moved the apex court.
The bench of Justice PC Ghose and Amitava Roy ordered to issue notice to Shahabuddin while refusing to grant any stay till it heard the former MP on the issue of the cancellation of his bail. Bhushan and Bihar Government counsel Gopal Singh had argued that Shahabuddin held a reign of terror in Siwan and his release would be a hindrance to fair trial in other cases pending against him. They further argued that he has a criminal past and convicted for murders.
Shahabuddin, who is staying at his native place Pratappur in Siwan, approached three noted lawyers Jethmalani, Kapil Sibal and Amrendra Sharan to represent him in Supreme Court. Obviously for some political consideration, Jethmalani agreed to take up his case.
Jethmalani, a former Union law Minister in Vajpayee Government, who was sent to Rajya Sabha a couple of months back by lalu Prasad had also represented the RJD supremo in fodder scam case. The octogenarian lawyer is likely to file `wakalatnama’ on Saturday to argue in the Supreme Court.
The BJP leaders criticised Jetghmalani for taking up the case of a “history-sheeter” but lalu’s son and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said pleading anybody’s case in the court was his prerogative and it has nothing to with the party politics. He said, “It is Shahabuddin’s decision to hire Jethmalani who is a professional lawyer and had represented several BJP leaders too in the court.”
“Jethmalani is not only a lawyer, he is also an RJD MP,” said BJP leader and former Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi and accused Nitish Kumar led Government of not being serious in case against Shahabuddin.
Meanwhile, the RJD strongman reached the Siwan jail to appear before the specially constituted court of session judge and special judicial magistrate but hearing could not take place due to the transfer of the judge. He had appeared in connection with 24 criminal cases pending against him.
BP leader Modi welcomed the Supreme Court decision issuing notice to Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav, Shahabuddin and Siwan SP following publication of their photographs with one Mohammad Kaif who is accused in Siwan scribe Rajdeo Ranjan’s murder. Ironically, the same person’s photo had also appeared with some senior BJP leaders.