Shahabuddin Down but Not Out
Patna: July 19, 2007
 Mohammed Shahabuddin, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP from Siwan who was recently convicted by a court in a murder case and who faces charges in over 30 additional cases, refused to travel to Patna, where he was to cast his vote for the Presidential post, in a prison van sending the jail officials in a tizzy to make alternative arrangement.
After much begging and pleading, Shahabuddin finally agreed to travel in a government Ambassador car but not before complaining about the heavy security paraphernalia that made part of his caravan.
Boxed within six security cars carrying a sub- divisional police officer, a dozen Sis, and a 25-member team of the Special Auxiliary Police (SAP)., Shahabuddin was brought to the state Assembly in Patna where once again, he showed the cops that he was the boss irrespective of what the court says.
 The MP was accorded warm welcome by RJD leaders including the leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister of Bihar Rabri Devi, Shyam Rajak, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, and Jagadanand.
Using tea as an excuse, RJD leaders tried to prolong Shahabuddin's freedom as long as they could during which the Siwan MP lashed out at the Nitish government saying rules were not being followed in the jail and he was being tortured by the prison officials.
"I am not even getting the minimum amenity of an ordinary prisoner. Even during the British Raj, prisoners were not treated this badly as I am being treated by the jail officials in Siwan under the NDA government in the state," Shahabuddin told his audience.
The MP also complained about being surrounded by security officials in the Assembly premises. "Armed security officials are not allowed inside the Assembly but this government has no respect for the rules and is determined to humiliate me to make political points," he said.
Agreeing with his leader in jail, Siddiqui said the JD-U leaders brought from prison to cast their votes were given full freedom to roam around in the Assembly whereas all security guns were pointed towards Shahabuddin.
"This has further lowered the sanctity of the Assembly under the current leadership in Bihar," Siddiqui said.
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