Thursday, June 15 2006 16:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Siwan: Despite a special court beginning to function in Siwan divisional jail from today (June 15, 2006) , controversial RJD MP Mohammed Shahabuddin failed to appear before it for trial in six of nearly 40 cases pending against him on account of ill health.

As the court of First Class Judicial Magistrate B B Gupta sat in a special building designated as court to start trial proceedings against the Siwan MP in connection with the six cases relating to arms act, kidnapping and assault on a former CPI-ML MLA from Mairwa Satyadev Ram and his bodyguard, the MP's counsel Abhay Kumar Rajan informed the court that he was suffering from severe pain in the spine and thus unable to appear.

The Special Judge fixed June 17 for next hearing.

Amid opposition RJD and Congress' accusation of the Nitish Kumar government neglecting Shahabuddin's health, the Bihar government had earlier this month decided to set up two special courts for speedy trial of cases against him inside the jail.

The Law department had issued notification for setting up two courts one of District and Sessions Judge and another of Judicial Magistrate inside Siwan jail for speedy trial of the RJD MP in over three dozen cases, including that of sedition.

Shahabuddin was charged with sedition on the basis of recovery of foreign-made firearms and bullets bearing mark of Pakistan ordinance factory during raids at his Pratappur residence in April last year.

Shahabuddin was transferred from Bhagalpur central jail to Siwan on May eight.