Shahabuddin surrenders, says Nitish Kumar will get 'fitting response' in next elections

With the Supreme Court cancelling his bail and ordering his return to jail, former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Member of Parliament Mohammad Shahabuddin on Friday asserted that he respected the order of the apex court, while slipping in a warning that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would get a fitting response from his supporters in the next elections.

Speaking to ANI here after surrendering in the Siwan district court, Shahabuddin said that he found out about the cancellation of his bail through other people, adding that he is yet to receive the order himself.

"I surrendered here the moment I heard about the court's decision from people. I will abide with it as I have always respected the Supreme Court's order," he said.

When asked if he had faced this massive setback since he had criticised Nitish Kumar and spoke against the Bihar government, Shahabuddin responded saying that he never feared from speaking the truth and that his supporters will give a firm response to the Chief Minister in the next polls in the state.

Earlier on Friday, the apex court division bench, headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh and Justice Amitava Roy, set aside the order of the Patna High court, which had granted bail to Shahabuddin and ordered that he must be taken into custody immediately.

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, who has filed one of the petitions, on Thursday argued before the apex court that Shahabuddin did not follow any rules and had walked out of jail at will.

The top court had on September 19 issued a notice to Shahabuddin while hearing pleas of the Bihar Government and Chandrakeshwar Prasad against the bail granted to him.

The Bihar Government had earlier filed an appeal before the apex court challenging the Patna High Court's order of granting bail to Shahabuddin.

The petition was filed by Bhushan on behalf of the victim's family, which was upset to see Shahabuddin walk free.

Shahabuddin, who had been in jail for more than 10 years in connection with multiple cases, was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 7 in connection with the murder of a man who witnessed the killing of two brothers in Siwan.

Shahabuddin's release from jail evoked widespread criticism of the grand alliance in the state with the opposition accusing the government of paving way for his release by not opposing the bail strongly in the court.