M A I N   N E W S

Shahabuddin’s house raided
Arms seized, three arrested

Patna, April 24
The police in Bihar raided the ancestral home of controversial Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Mohammad Shahabuddin in Siwan district early today, seizing arms and ammunition and arresting three persons.

A team led by Siwan SP Ratan Sanjay raided Shahabuddin’s house in Pratappur village and seized the arms and ammunition, police sources said.

Conflicting reports have however been received on the number of arms and ammunition seized from the MP’s house. Neither the Siwan district administration nor the police have said anything on the matter.

Police officials said the district administration had been planning to raid Shahabuddin’s palatial house, known as “saheb ka bungalow” in Siwan, for over a week.

Interestingly on Saturday, Siwan District Magistrate C.K. Anil, who has issued a six-month ban on the entry of MP’s into Siwan, held a public hearing in Shahabuddin’s village.

A police complaint had been filed two days ago against Shahabuddin on the directives of the District Magistrate. The complaint charged the MP with “concealing” facts relating to a number of cases against him in an affidavit he had filed during the nomination for the Siwan Lok Sabha seat last year.

In the complaint, the police charged Shahabuddin with showing only 19 pending criminal cases though the complainant said there were 34 cases against him at the time.

The Lok Sabha MP had last week served a privilege notice on Anil for the six-month ban on his entering his constituency.

In an explanation to the privilege committee of the Lok Sabha, Anil justified the ban, calling the MP a habitual criminal and showing documents to back his claim.

The magistrate said if Shahabuddin was not barred from entering the district, it could create law and order problems there.

The Central Government has asked Bihar Chief Secretary K.A.H. Subramanian to furnish a report on the matter. — IANS