Policemen let jailed Bihar leader use phone, suspended

The Election Commission Tuesday ordered the suspension of half a dozen policemen for allowing a jailed former legislator to use a mobile phone in a court premises in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district.

Munna Shukla was brought to the court for a hearing in connection with a murder case, said additional chief electoral officer R. Lakshmanan told media persons.

He said Shukla was shifted from Muzaffarpur jail to Bhagalpur jail following an order of the poll panel after a complaint said he was found using a mobile phone in the court premises.

"The EC has taken the issue seriously and ordered the suspension of the police escort team for dereliction of duty," he said.

Shukla faces several criminal cases related to murder, attempt to murder, extortion and abduction. He is serving a life term for the murder of former Bihar minister Brij Bihari Prasad in June 1998.

He was also sentenced to life imprisonment in 2007 for the 1994 murder of Indian Administrative Service officer G. Krishnaiya. However, he was later acquitted by the Patna High Court.