SC to hear Shahabuddin bail cancellation matter tomorrow

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

While hearing the matter, Lawyer Prashant Bhushan told the apex court that if Mohammad Shahabuddin would be out on bail then the witness' life would be in danger.

Bhushan had earlier on Monday told the apex court that there were 45 cases against Shahabuddin, out of which nine are related to murder and ten are related to convictions.

Bhushan told a division bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh, that Shahbuddin is a serious threat to society if his bail is not cancelled. Shahabuddin's lawyer asked for more time to respond.

The top court was hearing the petitions challenging a Patna High Court order to grant bail to Shahabuddin earlier this month.

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 has been 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.