A Tale of Two Leaders

by Ashok Pandey

June 27, 2006

Shahabuddin the Manipulator - Part II

He told us, he was going to take crime out of the streets. He did. He took it into the White House. (Richard Nixon). It’s a funny quotation on crime made by Richard Nixon (the thirty-seventh President of the United States (1969-1974)). The same situation “WE THE PEOPLE” of India is witnessing at present. Shahabuddin, the MP from Siwan representing a typical syndrome of crime-politics nexus, became law unto himself. Instead of taking crime out of the society, he took it to the every corner of Bihar.

Before, we move further, kindly allow me to say thanks especially to Mr. Anil Kumar and other reader for their nice and superb comment on my earlier article “Shahabuddin the Manipulator”. The idea of writing this present article struck my mind, after reading the comments made by Mr. Anil Kumar. He started his comment on my earlier article by writing that; I forgot to mention the Siwan raja's recent flirting with LLB degree from a college in Muzaffarpur. But that's okay, as the list of crimes committed by the Siwan MP is so long that it is only natural to forget some of his misdeeds. Then I thought, well it’s true that this Shahabuddin Bhai L.L.B (of Munna Bhai M.B.B.S fame), is wanted in many cases. It is reported in almost every media that he is wanted in connection of some 40-42 odd cases. The Siwan DM (Mr. C. K. Anil), the most respected officer of Bihar, claims that he is having 20 Kg of documents with him, against Shahabuddin. The same argument is supported by the Ex-DGP (Mr. D. P Ojha), another high class and superb officer of Bihar. Shahabuddin has even threatened to settle scores with Mr. Ojha once he retires. In his repartee, Ojha asserted at a press conference that, ''People like Shahabuddin will have to be born thrice to take me on''. We all know 40-42 cases, are pending against him, but the big question is what all those 40-42 cases are about. WE THE PEOPLE had a very a brief idea about all those cases. In a broad way, we know that the MP of Siwan is wanted in murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, extortion, robbery etc (list is endless). The basic idea of writing this article is to make “WE THE PEOPLE” aware what all those cases/charges are pending against Shahabuddin Bhai L.L.B. Let me start this, by telling how this kingpin graduated in politics and crime simultaneously.

Well built body and over six-feet tall, MP Shahabuddin has an impressive and attractive personality. MP Shahabuddin's started his career in crime in year 1985, when he was barely 20 years young lad. Before we move a bit, discussing the activities of Shahabuddin, let me share some thing quite interesting. It goes like this:

Boy to his Father: Dad, Will you buy me an original gun?
Father: Never, go away, I am watching the World Cup final.
Boy again: You do realize you are violating my constitutionally protected second amendment to bear arms rights, don’t you?
Father: You, about to see me violate some child abuse laws too, if you don’t hush.

I guess, in Shahabuddin’s case, it was just other way round. He got the gun and started his career. In that very year i.e. 1985, he was booked under section 324, 307 (attempt to murder) and section 34 of the IPC. After five bloody years, Shahabuddin contested the Assembly elections in 1990, and won as an Independent from Jeeradei constituency. Interestingly, this man started his political career from Jeeradei, the native place of India’s first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. By the time he was elected to the Bihar Assembly as an Independent from the Jeeradie assembly seat in 1990, there were reportedly 12 cases against him, including three of murder.

Soon after that, he joined the Janata Dal under the leadership of Laloo Yadav, the then chief minister. In 1993, he was charged under sections 143, 148, 149, 334 and 307 in Hussainganj police station. The charges: In one night, his gang members massacred CPI (ML) supporters Salaluddin Ansari, Lal Bahadur Bhagat, Jagdish Bhagat, Shivnath Bhagat and Lilawati Devi at Jeeradei. The incident came to be known as the Jeeradei massacre. During the 1996 Lok Sabha elections, Shahabuddin was booked under sections 147, 148, 149, 327, 307 and 302. The charges: He led an armed gang and captured several booths including one at Ramnagar-Satpokharia where they killed Hiralal Manjhi, Chandrika Ram and Shekhar Sah. No arrest was made. The day after the polling, the then SP of Siwan tried to arrest Shahabuddin but he and his men opened fire on the police officer. The SP lodged a case against him but he was soon transferred from Siwan. He was re-elected to the Assembly in 1995. Shahabuddin was first elected to Parliament in 1996, not as RJD candidate but on the Janata Dal ticket from the Siwan constituency. On polling day, in the 1996 parliamentary elections, he and his supporters opened fire on then superintendent of police S K Singhal. The rise of Shahabuddin’s muscle power was largely due to the support he received from sections of minority, as well as upper caste Hindus, mainly landlords, who were protected by him against the movement by the CPI (ML) and other parties demanding land reforms. Until 1998, some 25 cases were registered against him. The details of these cases are given below:

1 Siwan Town 34/ 1985 384, 385, 379, 323, 34 May 11 1985
2 Siwan Town 217/ 1985 307, 323, 34 September 9 1985
3 Siwan Town 222/ 1985 307, 341, 323, 324, 34, 27, Arms Act April 9 1985
4 Siwan Town 79/ 1986 399, 402, 411, 412, 414, 35, Arms Act April 10 1986
5 Moffasil PS 228/ 1986 47, 148, 325, 302, 27, Arms Act December 31 1986
6 Hussainganj 125/ 1986 324, 364, 307, 323, 34 September 12 1968
7 Siwan Town 57/1989 307, 302, 34, ¾ Explosives March 19, 1989
8 Moffasil 91/1989 353, 364, 304, 34, 37 Arms Act. May 1, 1998
9 Mairwan 134/1990 302, 34, ¾ Explosive November 22, 1990
10 Moffasil 61/1990 363 April 12, 1990
11 Siwan Town 205/1990 365, 337 September 3, 1990
12 Siwan Town 129/1985 324, 307, 34, 27 Arms Act May 6, 1985
13 Siwan Town 77/1986 394 April 8, 1988
14 Siwan Town 183/1998 307, 27 Arms Act September 10, 1998
15 Hussainganj 188/1993 147, 148, 334, 307, 27 Arms Act October 3, 1993
16 Panchrukhi 80/1994 147, 323, 327, 27 Arms Act May 24, 1994
17 Siwan Town 108/1994 147, 148, 149, 324 May 22, 1994
18 Siwan Town 155/1994 302, 307, 324 August 7, 1994
19 Punchrukhi 8/1995 ---- October 20, 1995
20 Siwan Town 11/ 1996 34, 342, 323, 27 Arms Act January 18, 1998
21 Hussainganj 99/1998 147, 148, 149, 302 May 2, 1998
22 Andar 32/1998 147, 149, 302, 488 May 2, 1998
23 Andar 36/1996 147, 148, 307 May 2, 1998
24 Daruall 34/1996 307, 353, 34, 27 Arms Act May 4, 1990
25 Muffasil 181/1998 147, 323, 448, 504 September 8, 1998

In the last fifteen years, more than 38 cases of all sorts of crimes were registered against him. Later, he was exonerated in 14 cases due to absence of any witness or in some cases; witnesses became hostile in the court. In some of the cases even policemen as witness turned hostile. The above 25 cases out of 42 cases reported against him are well documented. The remaining cases and activities reported against this so called high profile bhai are like this.

Murder of JNU Student Chandrasekhar in 1997: At 4 pm on 31st March 1997, when Chandrasekhar was addressing the crowd next to the statue of J.P., a bullet hit him in the head. As he fell down, seven more bullets from various directions went through his chest. More bullets hit his party leader Shyamnarain Yadav and rickshaw puller Bhuteli Mian. The three bodies slumped on the dusty road and the crowd ran for cover. Though, Shahabuddin was in jail at the time of the incident, a case was filed against him under section 120 (conspiracy) on the basis of sworn affidavits submitted by Chandrashekar's mother and friends. A CBI inquiry is still underway

Munna Chaudhary (CPI-ML, Liberation activist), 1999: Shahabuddin and his six associates were named in the FIR at Siwan Muffasil police station by Munna’s mother Champa Devi under Section 364/34 IPC. The FIR says that Shahabuddin along with his men had kidnapped CPI-ML (liberation) activist Munna Chaudhary in 1999 from his village-home with the intention to kill him and since then Munna is trace less. It is alleged that Munna Chaudhary was killed and later his body was thrown into the furnace of brick kiln.

Chote Lal Gupta (CPI-ML, Liberation activist), 1999: Shahabuddin and two others are accused in the case lodged in the Hussainganj police station under section 364 of the Indian Penal Code (kidnapping a person with intention to murder). Gupta was abducted from near a railway crossing in Siwan district on February 5, 1999.

Two cases of assault of Police Officers, 2001: The first case is related to the assault on Deputy Superintendent of Police Ashwini Kumar at an examination centre in Siwan on January 18, 2001, when he had gone to arrest Manoj Kumar Rana alias Pappu, an accused in a case of abduction and murder, who is a close associate of the MP. The second case is related to the assault in 2001 on former sub-divisional police officer of Siwan Sanjeev Kumar. Sanjeev Kumar was assaulted by Shahabuddin and Rana when he was trying to arrest the latter. The duo also opened fire to intimidate Kumar and other people.

Encounter between the Police and Md. Shahabuddin's Group at Pratappur, District-Siwan on 16.03.2001: Eleven persons, including a sub-inspector, were killed in a gun-battle between police and supporters of Rashtriya Janata Dal Member of Parliament Mohammad Shahabuddin in his native village in Siwan district which began on Thursday afternoon and continued into the night. Though the MP was in his house, he managed to escape before the police closed in on him. The police claimed to have recovered the following arms after the criminals had left the village. A). 3 cartridges of S.L.R. from the pocket of deceased Feroz alias Teni. B). From the 'Baithak' of Md. Shahabuddin, one regular Rifle of .315 bore with cartridges loaded in it. C). 9 mm pistol with ten cartridges from the floor near the body of deceased Arif alias Sheikh Wasim. D). From the roof of the deceased Haroon Mian one AK-47 with 61oaded cartridges. E). Two hand grenades. F) From near the deceased Ainul Haque AK-47 with 16 cartridges in the magazine. G). From near the deceased Quuddus Khan, AK-47 with 18 cartridge.

Not a day has passed without Mohammed Shahabuddin, the notorious MP from Siwan in Bihar, hitting the headlines. A renowned lawyer of Siwan, Raghubir Sharan Verma, his wife and son were also shot dead in broad day light; the situation and scene was quite similar to all new Bollywood violence centric films. Recently, on the request of his son, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Jharkhand for impartial trial. Another man who poses a challenge to Siwan don’s might is Virendra Kumar Pandey, owner of a distillery unit. Recently on his request, Supreme Court issued instructions to the state government to provide adequate security to him. His crime network is so vast that every major crime finds its link to his house. A notorious criminal, Dinesh Tiwary confessed before the Uttar Pradesh Police that 2.5 crore ransom money collected from abduction of Ashwini Gupta from Patna deposited in a foreign bank through Hawala channel for him. Recently, arrested Patna terror, Sultan Mia showed no hesitation in accepting his close association with Shahabuddin even before media persons.

Link with ISI and Pak Terrorist Organization: Shahabuddin has links with key ISI operatives in Nepal and Kashmir besides being involved in 42-odd criminal cases. It was the arrest of six underworld hit-men by the Delhi Police in connection with a plot to kill Tarun Tejpal, CEO of Tehelka.com, Which made it clear the link of Shahabuddin with ISI. Detailed interrogation reports of the gang leader, Bhupinder Tyagi, made available to INDIA TODAY, suggest that Shahabuddin was the mastermind behind the plot. Tyagi claims he once accompanied the MP to Sopore where they met several militants. The talks centered on the supply of arms and ammunition. "When militants wanted to hand over supplies there itself, Shahabuddin refused, saying that the army would carry out strict checkings," says Tyagi. For the Tejpal operation, Shahabuddin, alleges Tyagi, visited Birganj and Kathmandu several times, and met chief ISI operatives, including former Nepal minister Salim Ansari and someone code-named Jain whom external intelligence agencies are trying to identify. Then too, the talks were mostly about arms supply and fake currency notes. "He's in regular touch with ISI top guns based in Kathmandu," says Tyagi.

Raid in MP House in 2005: The raids, which were conducted jointly by the Special Task Force (STF) and the district police following complaints of rampant illegal activities at Pratappur, began on Sunday (Apr 24, 2005) ended on Monday (Apr 25, 2005). Over 250 cartridges, four semi-automatic rifles, two night vision devices, a walkie-talkie, one revolver, deer and animal skin were recovered on Sunday during raids at Shahabuddin's ancestral house and that of his relatives at his native Pratappur village in Siwan. Apart from these, six two-wheelers, one Tata Sumo, one Maruti car and a Tata Sierra vehicle without proper documents, skin of two deer and that of a tiger were also seized from the house. The team, led by the then DM C K Anil and S P Ratan Sanjay, had also recovered 76,000 US dollars,10,500 Dirham and 800 Riyals. Two persons -- Jamaluddin and Maksud -- were arrested during the raids and four new cases were filed against Shahabuddin under the Arms Act, Wild Life Protection Act, Bihar State Electricity Act and Transport Act.

Flirting with L.L.B, Oct 2005: An FIR was registered with the Kazi Mohammadpur police station at Muzaffarpur against Shahabuddin, Principal of the local RDS College Mohammad Tauheed Alam, B.R. Ambedkar University Examination Controller Upendra Mishra and eight others, under different Sections of the IPC, including Sections 420, 468 and 470 regarding his "appearance" at an examination at RDS college Muzaffarpur. The controversial MP has hired the services of someone who had appeared on his behalf with forged documents in the examination.

Threatening a Local Politician March 2006: A fresh police complaint on Monday was lodged against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Mohammad Shahabuddin who was jailed in Bhagalpur, for threatening a local politician in Bihar. The complaint was filed by A.K. Chauhan who alleged that Shahabuddin had threatened his brother not to contest the upcoming local body elections. Chauhan claimed that Shahabuddin made threatening calls to his brother from his mobile phone and his brother identified the MP's voice.

Shahabuddin threatens Jail superintendent June 2006: Controversial RJD MP Mohammed Shahabuddin today abused and threatened the jail superintendent of Siwan and refused to appear before a special court inside the divisional jail here for the third consecutive day. "The MP used expletives against the jail superintendent Lalan Kumar Sinha and threatened to kill him when he read out the production warrant against him in his cell,”. After that a case was filed by the superintendent against Shahabuddin.

The above article/report is prepared after extensive search of cases, FIR etc reported against the MP Shahabuddin. Still, I feel that many cases against Siwan MP have gone unnoticed from my eyes. If someone enlightens on some more cases, it will be of great help to WE THE PEOPLE of this country. As the trial against this MP has started, so it has aroused more and more curiosity and interest among the common man to know more and more things related to the kingpin. I am sure the article will help WE THE PEOPLE, to know some important and crucial cases pending against our Member of Parliament Shahabuddin. However, there are many in Siwan who consider Shahabuddin to be a Robin Hood. They say he has ensured peace in the town and that women can move freely even after nightfall. Finally to conclude with, the law of the land is doing its duty and WE THE PEOPLE believe that Truth Alone Triumphs (Satyameva Jayate).


Piro Legislator Sunil Pandey

SP a.k.a Sunil Pandey a.k.a Narendra Kumar Pandey, the underworld don turned MLA is one of the 'commanders' of the Ranvir Sena, the private army of Bhumihar farmers. The bearded Pandey, who represents the Piro segment in Bhojpur district, is wanted in a number of cases. He is alleged to have led marauders in at least two cases of massacres against Harijans in central Bihar.

Pandey was a Samata Party legislator who was suspended from the Samata Party after being arrested by the Vaishali police in connection with kidnapping case of Dr. Ramesh Chandra. He is one of the most wanted criminals of Bihar who is reported to be involved in several murder, dacoity, rape and other criminal cases. Let me walkthrough in brief in some of the hit cases against this popular MLA.

Abduction of Neurosurgeon Dr Ramesh Chandra: Sunil Pandey's name has been mentioned in connection with the abduction of Patna-based neurosurgeon Dr Ramesh Chandra. Dr Chandra was kidnapped on the night of May 18 2003, while returning from a party held at the residence of Dr Ajay Kumar in Ashiana Nagar. Dr Chandra was recovered by the police on May 20 from Chirora village in Patna district. Pandey was made an accused in the Dr Chandra kidnapping case on the basis of the confessional statement of Ranvijay Pratap Singh alias Babloo, another accused in the case, who said that, Pandey had the knowledge of the kidnapping. Singh also said the MLA was to get Rs 25 lakh out of Rs 50 lakh that was to be realized as ransom from the family members of Dr Chandra.

The Patna police also lodged a case against Pandey under the Arms Act. The MLA is charged with opening fire on the premises of a hotel located near Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Police believe the MLA, after receiving news of Dr Chandra's abduction, opened fire in order to 'celebrate'.

Abduction of Dr. Gajendra Mohan Sinha: Sunil Pandey, has been made accused in connection with the abduction of a Hajipur-based doctor Gajendra Mohan Sinha some 3 years back. Pandey had denied his involvement in both the cases. Earlier, at one of the press conference Pandey had said: "Despite my long wait, Hajipur police are yet to reach my residence to interrogate me in connection with Dr Sinha kidnapping case." He was referring to Vaishali Superintendent of Police Shobha Ohatkar's statement regarding his interrogation of Narendra Kumar Pandey of JDU, who was sent to jail in connection with kidnapping of a doctor from Hajipur.

One shot dead at Boring Road: One Pramod Kumar was shot dead near Lalita Hotel at Boring Road area under the Kotwali police station in September 2003 on one fine Sunday evening. A resident of Terangana village of Masaurhi police station, he was going by his scooter at the time of incident. A dispute over a railway contract was said to be the reason behind the killing. The deceased was sent to jail twice in two different cases lodged with Dumka police station of Dumka and Balidiha police station of Jharkhand. "The police had also attached his property in his native village." Jailed MLA Sunil Pandey’s brother, Hulas Pandey, has been made accused while Sunil figured as conspirator in the case.

Attack on Dalit: An FIR was lodged with the Darihat police station of Rohtas district against the then Samata Party MLA from Piro (Bhojpur district) Narendra Pandey alias Sunil Pandey and his brothers under the Act for prevention of atrocities on Dalits and other sections of the IPC in September 2002. The FIR was lodged on the complaint of Dalit Ram, a Dalit of Gohi village under the Darihat police station. Protracted land dispute is stated to be the reason for the row between the MLA’s family and Dalit Ram. The incident has caused shock and terror among the Dalits in the neighbouring villages of the district. Dalit Ram, in his FIR, alleged that on September 30 morning, the MLA’s brother along with some persons tied his hands behind his back and took him forcibly at gun point to Sunil Pandey. He was assaulted black and blue with lathis and rifle butts for his daring to file cases in the court of the DCLR against the family members of the MLA. Dalit Ram said Sunil Pandey threatened him of dire consequences if he did not withdraw the cases against his family members. He also alleged that he was not allowed to come out of the MLA’s house for two days by his gun-toting henchman and family members. Somehow he reached the Dehri-on-Sone police station for Dalits but here too, he was chased away by the officer in charge. Later, he was admitted to hospital, where his statement was recorded by an ASI, the complainant added.

Some other incidents: The MLA, Sunil Pandey, when he was at Sasaram jail, a few years back, is learnt to have gone to attend an orchestra programme and a marriage party with his police security team. He was allowed by the court to be taken to the Patna Medical College Hospital for treatment. Once out of the jail, he, allegedly in connivance with the police, visited his constituency to watch a musical programme and to attend a marriage party and had a gala time before he decided to return to the prison. Some officials have also made a voice against the same MLA for using the mobile phones with impunity due the lack of jamming devices in the state's prisons. This high-profile MLA was able to extort money, threaten to kill people and run his murky empires using the little high-tech gadgets from the Jail.

Some Questions:

1. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s war against crime has won him not many friends even among his own his comrades in arms. Pursuing his battle diligently the CM has not spared even the state’s politicians who have criminal cases pending against them. The police have been given a free hand. “Hum kisi ko bachane naheen ja rahe hai,” said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recently, indicating that the law will take its own course. Well, one may like to ask the first question to the CM Nitish Kumar, that this MLA Sunil Pandey was earlier in Samata party then later he joined JDU after suspension and arrest by the Vaishali police in connection with kidnapping case of Dr. Chandra, lots of cases are pending against him, recently he created a problem at Maurya Hotel, and every thing was telecast live, so will Mr. Nitish Kumar open his heart and give his own viewpoint over the entire issue and over this MLA, keeping the CM post, JDU party and politics aside. We would to like know the voice/opinion of Mr. Nitish Kumar as a citizen and not as CM or any other thing. It’s ok that the law will take its own course, but actually the question is how Mr. Nitish Kumar feels, what his views are, what are his recommendations, what is his reaction over the entire MLA issue and his past deeds, that’s what we Junta Janardan want to know.

2. Second questions probably can be asked to the Police Team: This is not the first time Pandey has been involved in such degrading incident. Similar scenes have been created by the Piro MLA at Patna Airport in the past. While no case has been filed by the Maurya management despite the passage of more than 48 hours since the ugly incident took place, at this time what will be the strategy of Patna Police? The incident was telecast live, and thousand of people witnessed it. So we the Junta Janardan would like to know, whether the Patna Police will maintain its silence over the entire issue or they will arrest the MLA soon or they have some other plans. Other plans means arresting and claiming that they have arrested the MLA Sunil Pandey while he was coming out of the Assembly or while the MLA was filing the nominations or he was taking rest at government circuit house/guest house or at his official bungalow based on the tip-off given to Patna Police. Or the Patna Police wants that let the MLA himself surrender before them, who will take the pain to catch hold of this MLA. We have to take care of our growing tummy.

3. Third question probably can be asked to the Junta of Piro: Sunil Pandey is the MLA from Piro for a very long period and lots of cases are pending against him which includes murder, dacoity, rape, extortion, kidnapping etc. At this moment one may ask, what he has done till date for his constituency? What are his major contributions? Has he done some thing great or of that sort for the people or society in general of his constituency? Why the people of Piro are selecting such a notorious candidate? Do the people of Piro feel that this kind of candidate will bring light in the life of the Piro constituency?

4. The last question, a general one, I always wonder, why the MP or MLA or “Khadi walas” when get arrested immediately wanted to shift themselves to Jail Hospital? Why they always feel a pain in their heart, why they need immediate medical care and treatment, as soon as they enter the Jail. The answer probably will be best explained by some medical expert, politician himself, psychologists, or some expert reader like Mr. Anil Kumar.

Return to previous Page