Wednesday, May 17 2006 18:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhagalpur (Bihar): An administrative probe into the shifting of controversial RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin to Siwan divisional jail earlier this month has found 'serious lapses' on the part of the Bhagalpur jail authorities.

The probe report sent by Bhagalpur District Magistrate Bipin Kumar to Inspector General of Prisons R K Khandelwal has found that the MP was allegedly shifted from the jail on May 6 in a luxury vehicle belonging to a Jharkhand RJD leader, highly placed sources in the district administration told sources today on condition of anonymity.

"The probe, conducted by sub-divisional officer (Sadar) Dhananjay Thakur, found that the jail superintendent Nawal Prasad Singh had hired the vehicle without checking the relevant papers," the sources said.

"The Bhagalpur DM and superintendent of police were 'kept in the dark' on the issue and this was the reason behind the absence of two officers during the shifting of the MP from Bhagalpur to Siwan," the sources said.

When questioned, the driver of the vehicle said it belonged to one Ashok Yadav of Deogarh in Jharkhand.

Yadav, who is the Jharkhand state general secretary of RJD, is a kin of the party's MP from Banka Giridhari Yadav.

The probe report has mentioned that the vehicle was meant for private use and not for commercial purposes.

When contacted IG of prisons confirmed receiving thereport from the Bhagalpur DM, but refused to reveal its contents saying he would forward it to state home secretary Afzal Amanullah.