Jailed ex-MP Shahabuddin shifted to AIIMS

Former parliament member Mohammad Shahabuddin was shifted from Bhagalpur Central Jail in Bihar to Delhi's AIIMS for treatment on Wednesday, officials said.

"Shahabuddin has been sent to Delhi for treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, under full security by Rajdhani Express on Wednesday," a jail official in Bhagalpur said.

According to police officials, Shahabuddin complained about acute back pain after he was shifted to Bhagalpur from Siwan District Jail and the state government approved his request to allow his treatment at AIIMS.

He has been advised treatment at AIIMS by a team of two doctors. Shahabuddin had undergone spinal surgery at AIIMS in 2006.

Shahabuddin was shifted from Siwan District Lail to Bhagalpur Central Jail last month after his prison cell was searched by police in connection with the murder of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan.

A criminal-turned-politician, Shahabuddin was lodged in Siwan jail for over a decade. He has only twice been shifted to Bhagalpur and Gaya jails for brief periods.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in Bihar have alleged that Shahabuddin had been pulling strings while being jailed in Siwan and had played a role in the killing of Rajdeo Ranjan.

--IANS

ik/ahm/vt