With reports of notorious RJD MP Mohammed Shahabuddin holding pre-poll durbars in Siwan jail pouring in, a horrified Election Commission today ordered the Bihar government to shift him to any other prison in the state where elections are over.The Commission, sources said, was apprehensive that Shahabuddin’s presence in the Siwan jail might vitiate the atmosphere and hinder the process of free and fair elections in the next two phases — February 15 and 23. Siwan is Shahabuddin’s home-town and Lok Sabha constituency and he has several criminal charges pending against him.The Commission’s action comes in the wake of reports alleging that Shahabuddin, completely ignoring jail rules, is holding durbars in the jail premises itself where his writ runs large.Chances are that the state government would shift him to Beur jail in Patna, EC sources said.Interestingly, the Commission order comes after the Supreme Court took a strong view of another RJD MP, Pappu Yadav, holding similar durbars inside Beur jail.
