The Supreme Court today issued notices to Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav and former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin in connection with the murder of Siwan journalist Rajdeo Ranjan.
Expressing grave concern over the alleged politician-criminal nexus in Bihar, the apex court also sought the response of Nitish Kumar government in this case.
The Supreme Court issued notices to Tej Pratap, son of RJD supremo Lalu Yadav, and Shahabuddin while hearing a plea of slain jounalist's wife seeking ransfer of the case to Delhi.
Rajdeo Ranjan's wife told the court that the case should be transfered to Delhi because she will not get a fair trial in Bihar.
The apex court issued notice to Lalu Prasad's elder son Tej Pratap for allegedly protecting the killers of Siwan journalist. The court issued notice to Shahabuddin who is accused of sending a sharpshooter to kill Rajdeo Ranjan.
Tej Pratap's picture with one of the accused in Siwan jounalist's murder case had recently gone viral which prompted opposition parties to accuse him of protecting the killers of Rajdeo Ranjan.
Mohammad Kaif alias Bunty, the accused in Siwan journalist murder case, is an alleged associate of Shahabuddin. He was absconding before being seen in photographs with Shahabauddin after the former RJD MP was released from the Bhagalpur jail.
Reacting to the SC notice, Tej Pratap Yadav said that BJP leaders who have a picture with Mohammad Kaif should also be sent out a notice.
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was also seen with Mohammad Kaif in a photograph.
“So many people take pictures with me, we dont know everyone do we? They dont have it written on their faces, Tej Pratap Yadav said.
The apex court also asked the CBI to file a status report in this case by October 17.
The court also directed the Siwan SP to provide protection to the wife of the slain journalist.
