The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered to shift Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin from Siwan (Bihar) to Tihar Jail for a free and fair trial in the case relating to a journalist's murder.
Shahabuddin's trial will be conducted through video conferencing and no special treatment will be given to him in Tihar jail, said SC.
Asha Ranjan, the wife of the deceased journalist, Ranjan Rajdeo, had filed a plea stating that free and fair trial against Shahabuddin was not possible if he remain lodged in the Bihar jail as witnesses would not be able to depose against him with his goons threatening them.
Shahabuddin is facing trial in 45 criminal cases.
42-year-old Rajdeo was shot dead in July last year at Phal Mandi near the Siwan Railway Station, barely half-a-kilometre from the police station.
The Bihar Government had recommended the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) to probe the case.
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The case came into limelight again after a photograph appeared in the media showing murder suspects Mohammad Kaif and Mohammad Javed with gangster-politician Mohammed Shahabuddin after his release from jail.
Kaif, however, later rubbished all accusations against him and said he has no involvement in Rajdeo's murder case.
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