‘Why no urgency to challenge bail’

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar as to why it did not show any urgency in challenging the bail granted by the Patna high court to RJD leader Mohammad Shahabuddin.

A bench of Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitav Roy, while rejecting the plea of counsel for Shahabuddin for adjournment, said “how many witnesses have been bumped off ”

When counsel Prashant Bhushan for petitoner Chandrakehswar Prasad sought stay of the HC order granting bail, the bench said “we don’t want to stay the order at present. We will hear the case fully on September 28.”

Counsel for the petitioner, whose all three sons were brutally murdered at the alleged instance of Shahabuddin, informed the bench that Shahabuddin was involved in as many as 58 cases, that includes 9 murders. Mr Bhushan said every day Shahabuddin poses serious threat to witnesses and opposed any adjournment.

Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Shahabuddin, said “they are making all sorts of allegations. We have to peruse various documents in various courts.” He said some of the allegations made in the media by Bhushan and others were “very disturbing” and handed over to the court some papers relating to the said allegations.

Counsel said, “Today I (Shahabuddin) am being tried by media.”Justice Amitav Roy told the counsel “We shall go by records. We have to balance the interests.”