Alleged shooter Mohammad Kaif was photographed with Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav (right).
Highlights
- Mohammad Kaif has been sent to 14 days in jail by Bihar Police
- He was spotted in photos with Mohammad Shahabuddin and Tej Pratap
- He was wanted by the police in journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder
Mohammad Kaif, an alleged shooter spotted in photos with don-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin and Tej Pratap, Bihar's Health Mminister and Lalu Yadav's older son, has surrendered to the Bihar police.
Mohammad Kaif was wanted by the police in connection with the murder earlier this year of a prominent journalist Rajdeo Ranjan. He has been sent to 14 days in jail.
Days after the release of Mohammad Shahabuddin, a former lawmaker and member of Lalu Yadav's RJD, from a jail in Bhagalpur, photographs and video footage were circulated that showed Mohammad Kaif in close proximity to him.
He not just greeted Mr Shahabuddin outside the prison, but also rode in the convoy of 300-odd cars that accompanied the former lawmaker to his home in Siwan. The police seemed to make no attempt to arrest him then.
In more embarrassment for the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar, photos then emerged of Mohammad Kaif with both Mr Shahabuddin and Tej Pratap, the older son of Lalu Yadav, chief of Bihar's ruling RJD.
The murdered journalist's wife Asha Ranjan has moved the Supreme Court requesting that the murder investigation be shifted to Delhi, alleging that her family was not safe with Mohammad Kaif at large.
Tej Pratap has called it a BJP conspiracy. "They (the BJP) bring some photograph from somewhere and make some false allegations. How would I know who is a shooter from the 1,000 people who click photos with me?" he had asked.
Mohammad Kaif's family and friends have protested alleging that he is being framed.
The CBI is expected to take over the Rajdeo Ranjan murder case in a few days.