M A I N   N E W S

A Tribune Exclusive
Criminal on bail in Manmohan Ministry
Taslimuddin involved in cases of attempt to murder, extortion, Arms Act...
Swati Chaturvedi
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 25
Even before getting a vote of confidence from the 14th Lok Sabha, the Manmohan Singh government is facing unprecedented embarrassment over the induction of Mr Mohammed Taslimuddin in the Council of Ministers because of his criminal antecedents.

The Opposition is gleeful that it has been handed a serious issue on a platter. The Tribune possesses documents that establish that even Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, who secured a berth for him in the Union Ministry, had filed seven cases against Mr Taslimuddin during his tenure as Chief Minister of Bihar.

There was no let-up in the filing of cases against him even after his wife, Mrs Rabri Devi, succeeded him as Chief Minister.

The newly sworn-in minister, who was elected from the Muslim-dominated Kishanganj constituency in North Bihar, has 11 cases of heinous crimes registered against him. The cases relate to attempt to murder, extortion and violation of the Arms Act and the Cheating Act.

The Prime Minister has been saddled with a minister who is nominally out on bail, which the courts can revoke any time in any of the serious cases.

Documents available with The Tribune give details of the cases pending against him in various courts.

The first case against Mr Taslimuddin was filed by the Araria police in 1986 under Sections 341/ 342/ 323/ 307/ 506/ 379/34 of the Indian Penal Code. The charges against him related to assault, attempt to murder and snatching of valuables by wrongful confinement.

Mr Taslimuddin's criminal career proceeds with an unerring pattern. In the same year, at the same police station cases were filed against him for attempt to commit murder and assault of public servants.

Yet another case was registered against him in the same year under Sections 409/420/ 467/468/ 47 of the IPC. This time the charges related to cheating and possession of forged documents.

Even the Laloo Yadav government in 1996 filed cases against him under Sections 147/ 148/149/ 307 of the IPC, the Arms Act and the Explosives Substances Act. He was accused of attempting to commit murder, organising unlawful assembly of persons and using firearms and explosives.

The next year the RJD government filed fresh cases charging him with assault, mischief and extortion. Interestingly, there is even a case in which the charges against him are attempt to commit suicide and cause defamation of his opponents.

Mr Taslimuddin was earlier foisted on the H.D. Deve Gowda-led United Front government in 1996 as Minister of State for Home by Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav.

Following an uproar over his criminal antecedents, he was forced to quit office within eight weeks. Apart from his criminal record, Mr Taslimuddin is not educationally qualified to hold as important a post as Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.