Scribe murder: Shooter Mohammad Kaif sent to custody

Mohammad Kaif, one of the key accused in the murder of Siwan journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, was sent to 14 days of judicial custody after he surrendered before the court on Wednesday. Kaif, who was spotted receiving Mohammad Shahbuddin on September 10 while he was being released, has been on the run since May.

Though Kiaf has been denying his role in the incident, but police sources claim that they have some vital information regarding his involvement in the murder case of the journalist. The police is likely to take him on remand for questioning. Earlier this week, three of his henchmen had surrendered before the police.

“He has surrendered before the court in a case related to extortion but there was warrant against in him in other cases as well,” Subodh Kumar, town police station inspector said after Kaif surrendered in Siwan court on Wednesday. The police official said his property was attached last week and a manhunt was launched to nab him. Kaif had spoken to few local journalists after his photograph with Mohammad Shahbuddin had gone viral and had said that, “I am a supporter of Mohammad Shahbuddin and had gone to receive him like others, and I am not a criminal or a shooter but I am a cricketer. I am being framed and even some journalists know my background.”

So far, around six persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan. The CBI, which had begun probe into the murder case last week, had registered an FIR against unknown persons under Section 302 (murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 of the IPC and 27 of the Arms Act.

The state government had constituted a Special Investigating Team to probe the matter after the slain journalist’s wife Asha Devi had lodged an FIR on May 13. The suspicion over Shahbuddin’s involvement had deepened after Laddan Mian’s name figured in the case. Laddan Mian and Mohammad Kaif according to police sources is close to Shahbuddin.