Alleged shooter Mohammad Kaif was photographed with Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav (right).
Highlights
- Tej Pratap seen in photo with alleged shooter of a prominent journalist
- Tej Pratap has denied charges of links to Mohammad Kaif
- Supreme Court also sent notice to Mohd Shahabuddin
The Supreme Court has asked Tej Pratap, Bihar health minister and RJD chief Lalu Yadav's son, to explain how an alleged shooter wanted in the murder of a prominent journalist in the state was seen with him in photographs.
"Those who hold positions in party and executive do not think for a second before attaching themselves to such anti-social elements and even render assistance," the Supreme Court said as it sent notice to the minister as well as Mohammad Shahabuddin, a former lawmaker from his party recently released from prison.
The journalist Rajdeo Ranjan's wife moved the Supreme Court after the photographs surfaced, seeking that the trial in her husband's murder case be shifted to Delhi as she fears for her family's life.
"If the police is deliberately not arresting Kaif and the health minister is taking photographs with proclaimed offenders, the life of Rajdeo Ranjan's wife and her two minor children is at stake," says the petition of Asha Ranjan, who has also accused Mr Shahabuddin of being involved in her husband's murder in May this year.
The Supreme Court today ordered the police in Bihar's Siwan, where Ms Ranjan lives, to provide protection to the journalist's family. It has also sought a status report from the CBI, which was asked to take over investigation in the case earlier this month.
Mohammad Kaif surrendered to the Bihar police this week. While ostensibly on the run, he was also spotted in photos and video footage with Mohammad Shahabuddin, a gangster-turned-politician serving two life sentences for murder. He was released on bail earlier this month.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD is part Bihar's ruling coalition led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the opposition BJP has linked Mr Shahabuddin's release after 11 years in jail with the party's return to power.
Tej Pratap has rubbished allegations of links with Mohammad Kaif, calling it a BJP conspiracy. "They (the BJP) bring some photograph from somewhere and make some false allegations. How would I know who is a shooter from the 1,000 people who click photos with me?" Mr Yadav had said.
His brother and Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav has tweeted photos and news reports that show BJP leaders with Mohammad Kaif and another alleged criminal called Iqbal Sheikh.