Jailed Bihar politician to be awarded Ph.D

Another jailed Bihar politician Vijay Kumar Shukla alias Munna Shukla, sentenced to life imprisonment for killing a minister, is set to be awarded a PhD. for his research on expression of political awareness in Hindi novels.

Shukla's research guide, Prof Devnandan Kumar Prasad of Rameshwar College, Muzaffarpur told IANS over telephone that Shukla had submitted his thesis and appeared for the final interview.

B.R. Ambedkar Bihar University examination controller, Arun Kumar Singh said that Shukla would be awarded a doctorate degree soon. 

Shukla, in his late 40s, appeared before a team of experts for his final interview Friday after submitting his thesis.

Brought from the Muzaffarpur jail under heavy security, the former legislator of ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) was upbeat and thanked all for the help in completing his research work, another official of the university said.

A local court two years ago had sentenced Shukla to life imprisonment in the sensational murder case of former Bihar minister Brij Bihari Prasad, June 13, 1998.

Earlier, Shukla was also sentenced to life imprisonment in 2007 in the case of the murder of an Indian Administrative Service officer G. Krishnaiya in 1994. He was later acquitted by the Patna High Court.

Krishnaiya, a 1985 batch officer of Bihar cadre, was shot at and then stoned by a mob near Muzaffarpur town on Dec 5, 1994.

Shukla also faces several criminal cases, including those related to murder, attempt to murder, extortion and abduction in various courts. His wife, Annu Shukla is a JD-U legislator from Lalganj in Vaishali district.

Shukla is not alone, two other 'bahubalis' or criminal-turned-politicians have been awarded a doctorate degree earlier.

Three years ago, then jailed JD-U legislator Sunil Pandey, sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping a doctor, was awarded a PhD. for his research on Lord Mahavir's philosophy of "Ahimsa (non-violence)".

The Veer Kunwar Singh University (VKSU) at Arrah in Bhojpur district, about 60 km from here, awarded a doctorate degree to Pandey at its convocation for his thesis "Mahavir Ke Updesh Adhunik Paripeksha Mein (Mahavir's Teachings in the Modern Context)".

Pandey, in his mid 40s, is a legislator of JD-U from Terari in Bhojpur district, and is currently out of jail on bail.

He has nearly two dozen criminal cases against him that include murder, kidnapping, extortion and loot. In September last year, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping neurosurgeon Ramesh Chandra in 2003.

Former Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, currently lodged in Siwan jail, was also awarded a doctorate degree on his thesis 'First Coalition Government' from B.R. Ambedkar Bihar University.