SC defers hearing in Shahabuddin bail case

Bhushan asked the division bench to cancel the bail plea calling Shahabuddin a serious threat to society

The Supreme Court  deferred the hearing of a plea demanding the cancellation of bail of former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Member of Parliament, Mohammad Shahabuddin, on September 28.

During an earlier  hearing, lawyer Prashant Bhushan had argued at the apex court that granting bail to Shahabuddin would endanger the lives of the witnesses involved in the multiple cases laoged against him.

On September 26, Bhushan brought it to the apex court's notice that there are 45 cases against Shahabuddin, out of which nine are murder cases and ten such cases where he has been convicted.

Bhushan asked a division bench, headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh, to cancel the bail plea calling Shahabuddin is a serious threat to society, to which the defense lawyer responded by asking for more time.

The top court was hearing several petitions challenging a Patna High Court order that granted bail to Shahabuddin on September 7, in connection with the murder of a man who witnessed the killing of two brothers in Siwan.

A petition was filed by Bhushan as well on behalf of the victim's family, who were upset to see Shahabuddin walk free.

Shahabuddin's release from jail evoked widespread criticism of the grand alliance in the state, with the opposition accusing the government for paving the way for Shabuddin's release.