RJD's Shahabuddin, 3 others get lifer in murder, kidnapping case

Case pertains to two sons of Siwan businessman Chandrashekhar Prasad who were abducted and murdered 11 years ago

A special court in Bihar on Friday sentenced former Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Mohammed Shahabuddin and three other accused to life imprisonment in connection with a double murder and kidnapping that took place 11 years ago. 

According to the prosecution, two sons of one Chandrashekhar Prasad – a businessman in Siwan – were abducted from their houses at Goshala road by Rajkumar Sah, Sheik Aslam and Arif Hussein on August 16, 2004 and taken to Pratappur village where acid was poured on Girish and Satish resulting in their death.

The plot was hatched reportedly on the orders of Shahabuddin.  The bodies could never be recovered. Their mother Kalawati Devi lodged an FIR charging Shahabuddin and his supporters. 

Later, their lone surviving son, who was an eyewitness in the case, was also killed by unidentified assailants on June 16 last year. 

All four were convicted on Wednesday and found the accused guilty of charges under section 302 (murder), 364A (kidnapping for Ransom), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) and 120 (criminal conspiracy). 

Additional District Judge Ajay Kumar Srivastava passed the order pronouncing the quantum of punishment. "The court has called it a rarest of the rare case, but refrained from awarding the capital punishment,” said Special Public Prosecutor. 

Shahabuddin’s wife Hina Shaheb has also stated that the former MP will challenge the verdict in high court.