SC to pass order on govt. plea challenging Shahabuddin's bail

The defense counsel has blamed the Bihar government for conspiring against Shahabuddin and delaying his trial

The Supreme Court will pronounce its order on the Bihar government's plea, challenging the bail granted to criminal-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin in Rajiv Roshan murder case, on September 29.

The two-judge-bench constitutted by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy, will pass the ruling after hearing the concluding arguments from both sides, where Shahabuddin's counsel had shifted the blame on the state government.

The defense lawyer said that despite taking cognizance of thye case on February 25, 2015, Shahabuddin had not been served the chargesheet till date--a mandatory requirement under the criminal law.

Shahabuddin's counsel told the court that Bihar government was delaying the trial.

Senior counsel, Shekhar Naphade, told the court that shifting Shahabuddin from Siwan to Bhagalpur Central Jail was also part of the delay.

"It is a conscious attempt on their (Bihar government) part that trial should not proceed. The moment the trial starts it will not stand as there is no evidence of alleged conspiracy against me," Naphade told the court.

Countering this, the Bihar government said that Shahabuddin had challenged the order taking cognizance of the chargesheet and it is unthinkable that he could have done it without having a copy.