It appears the law is finally catching up with controversial RJD MP Mohd Shahabuddin named in 36 cases and charge-sheeted in 26. Bihar Police has decided to get on his trail with DGP D.P. Ojha, late on Wednesday, ordering the immediate execution of an arrest warrant against him on charges of kidnapping for murder. ‘‘We have received orders for his arrest and will execute it with force if need be,’’ said STF SP Vinoy Kumar Singh.The DGP’s move apparently got the go-ahead from Laloo Prasad Yadav who was waiting to pin down the errant MP who has, of late, begun to challenge Laloo himself.When contacted in Delhi, Shahabuddin was defiant. ‘‘Let us see what they can do. I am planning to come to Siwan on Friday or Saturday,’’ he said adding the DGP was trying to victimise him. He ruled out surrender and said he was exploring legal possibilities. When asked if he thought that Laloo was behind the police move, he said: ‘‘Abhi tak to lagta nahin hai (It isn’t apparent yet).’’Bihar Police has been trying to catch the MP for a long time, but it has apparently fluctuated with political equations in the state. In 2000, the police had surrounded Shahabuddin at his ancestral home in Pratap Pur village and a battle had followed between his supporters and police. The SP in charge of operations was transferred. Laloo, who remained silent on the first day of the incident, later went out of his way to keep the Siwan strongman pleased. Things changed for the worse for Shahabuddin when, despite his objections, D.P. Ojha was appointed DGP this year. Sources say the raid on the MP’s farmhouse in April was ‘‘in search for some criminals’’.The interesting fact is that the arrest warrant the police invoked is a two-year old one.
