Monday, February 21 2005 15:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Siwan: Despite a reprieve from the Patna High Court, controversial RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) Lok Sabha member from Siwan Mohammed Shahabuddin suffered a fresh setback today (Feb 21, 2005) as the district authorities ordered his detention till February 28 in Beur jail under the Bihar CCA (Control of Crime Act 1981).

The Patna High Court had granted him bail on Friday (Feb 18) in connection with the abduction-cum-murder of CPI-ML (Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist) leader Munna Choudhury.

"I held a court here today and passed an order for detaining Shahabuddin in judicial custody till February 28 till the process for the election is complete," Siwan District Magistrate C K Anil told reporters in Siwan.

Since Shahabuddin was booked under CCA he was being detained in judicial custody under Section 12 of the Act to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections in Bihar, Anil said.

Hours after the High Court had granted regular bail to the RJD leader in the Munna Choudhury murder case, Anil had ordered externment of Shahabuddin, his lieutenant and former Bihar minister Vikram Kuer and Jitendra Swami, senior RJD leader and son of party MLA Umashankar Singh from the district.

Shahabuddin, who was likely to be out of Beur jail following the High Court directive, would now have to remain there till the District Magistrate reviewed his order once the election process in Siwan was over.