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Journalism of Courage
A three-month long chase ended here today with the arrest of RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, wanted in a series of cases in Bihar including the murder of three Left workers.
In an anti-climax to the nationwide alert declared in August to nab him, his actual arrest came about in a quite tame manner 8212; at his official residence here.
Shahabuddin was then taken for a mandatory medical checkup at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and is to be produced before the duty magistrate at Patiala House Courts tomorrow to obtain the transit remand to take him to Siwan, according to officials.
The arrest came about after a nationwide alert had been announced to nab him in August. So far, the MP has eight non-bailable arrest warrants to his name, and is involved in 34 criminal cases. These include the murder of two CPIM-L activists in 1998 and the following year, and the sensational killing of former JNU Students8217; Union president Chandrasekhar in 1998.
Shahabuddin was facing the heat recently after allegedly filing false information about his records for nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections. Whereas there are 34 criminal cases against him, he had mentioned that there were only 19. On October 24, a Siwan court had rejected Shahabuddin8217;s anticipatory bail plea on this case, and the MP was once again in the legal crosshairs.
Meanwhile, the BJP pointed to the timing of the arrest. 8216;8216;The Bihar police were constantly aware of his whereabouts, so why did they choose to arrest him now?8217;8217; Bihar BJP chief Sushil Modi said. 8216;8216;He has been externed from Siwan, so this is the only way he can be brought back. Soon he will be sent to the hospital and will influence the elections on November 19.8217;8217;
