Shahabuddin got Bihar journalist killed: CBI

The CBI, which is investigating the sensational murder of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan in May 2016, said former RJD MP Shahabuddin is to blame for the murder.

The central agency charged the leader with criminal conspiracy and murder.

The CBI, which filed its charge sheet on Tuesday in the court of Justice Anupam Kumari, has slapped Sections 302, 120 (B) and 27 Arms Act on Shahabuddin and his six other associates.

Appearing before the special judge, investigating officer Sunil Singh Rawat (deputy superintendent of police, CBI) and lawyer Deep Narayan said there was substantial evidence to prove that Rajdeo was gunned down by Shahabuddin’s accomplices for writing stories against the former Siwan MP, who has been in jail since 2005.

Others who have been named in the charge sheet include Azharuddin Beig (alias Laddan Mian), Rishu Jaiswal, Rohit Kumar Soni, Vijay Kumar, Rajesh Kumar and Sonu Gupta.

“The conspiracy to eliminate Rajdeo was hatched in Siwan Jail, where Shahabuddin was earlier lodged after he was convicted of several kidnap and murder charges. Shahabuddin was unhappy with Rajdeo for writing reports against him,” the CBI told the court.

Rajdeo, who was the bureau chief of a local Hindi daily, was shot dead in Siwan in May last year while he was returning home from office.

Rajdeo’s widow, Asha Ranjan, had lodged an FIR against unknown assailants, but expressed apprehension that Shahabuddin might have been behind the crime.

The case saw its first breakthrough when Shahabuddin’s sharpshooter Laddan Mian, the prime suspect, was apprehended by the police. Laddan, who was denied bail by the CBI court, figures in the charge sheet.