Bihar recommends CBI probe into scribe's murder

The Bihar government on Monday night recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the May 13 killing of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan in Siwan, bowing to the wishes of his family and mounting outrage over the incident, but Chief Minister Nitish Kumar rejected opposition’s charge that ‘jungle raj’ was prevailing in the state.

State’s Home department issued a notification in this regard, a Chief Minister’s Secretariat official said.

As per the notification, the state government has requested the CBI to take over the investigation of the murder case.

‘In exercise of the powers conferred under section 6 of Delhi Police Establishment Act 1946 (Act 25 of 1946), the Governor of Bihar is pleased to accord his consent to exercise of powers and jurisdiction to the whole of Bihar to the members of Delhi Special Police Establishment to investigate/supervise and inquire into the Siwan Town P.S. Case No. 362/16, dated 13.05.2015 u/s 302/120 (B)/34 IPC and 27 Arms Act which is related to Murder of reporter Rajdev Ranjan,’ the notification issued by home department read.

Earlier in the day, Kumar had told the media that a decision to recommend a CBI probe had been taken at the request of Ranjan’s family.

“A decision has been taken to hand over the inquiry into the killing of a journalist of a vernacular daily at Siwan to the CBI at the request of his family. After completing the formalities, the recommendation for a CBI investigation would be made today itself,” Kumar had told reporters.

The chief minister said no effort has been spared in investigating the killing of Rajdeo Ranjan, the Siwan district bureau chief of Hindi daily Hindustan, and in the Gaya road rage incident in which a youngster was shot dead allegedly by the son of a ruling Janata Dal-United member of the legislative assembly.

The chief minister said he was personally saddened by the two killings. “I am in more pain over the two incidents than those shedding crocodile tears to score political points. For me the attack on the journalist at Siwan is like attack on myself.”

Kumar said he was prepared to order a CBI probe into the killing of the Gaya road rage incident victim too, if his family was not satisfied with the investigation being done by the state police.

“... when I saw in the media the (journalist’s) family’s demand for a CBI probe, I personally asked the DGP (director general of police) to send a police team to acquaint the family with probe (being conducted by the state police).

“Patna Zonal IG N H Khan met the family and they expressed satisfaction over the inquiry. We are prepared that if they are not satisfied, a CBI probe would be recommended in the Gaya incident too,” he said.

“None should have any doubt that anybody would be protected in any crime ... Under my government, nobody is above the law irrespective of party affiliation or social standing. We believe in the principle that police should conduct investigation in any crime independently and nobody should interfere in the probe process,” Kumar said.

He also asked the media to behave responsibly and share information or clue, if any, with the probe officials in the two cases.

When asked about jailed Rashtriya Janata Dal strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin’s alleged involvement in the murder of the journalist on May 13 and progress of police investigation in the case, the chief minister handed over the loud speaker to DGP P K Thakur, who was present, to answer the questions.

Kumar referred to the suspension of JD-U MLC Manorama Devi, whose son Rocky Yadav is alleged to have killed 19-year-old student Aditya Sachdeva in the road rage incident, and recovery of recovery of liquor bottles from her Gaya house following which an arrest warrant was issued against her.

The Bihar chief minister said he was personally saddened by the two killings. “I am in more pain over the two incidents than those shedding crocodile tears to score political points. For me the attack on the journalist at Siwan is like attack on myself.”

On the National Democratic Alliance’s allegation of return of ‘jungle raj’ in Bihar, Kumar said it was ‘a pre-decided tune which they play on case to case basis’.

Kumar added that he did not need any ‘certificate’ from anybody on ‘rule of law’. He said the rule of law prevailed in Bihar and would continue in future too.

In an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had called RJD ‘Rozana Jungle raj ka Dar’ (Daily fear of jungle raj) while campaigning for Bihar assembly polls, Kumar said, “People gave him a sound reply by electing Grand Secular Alliance of JD-U, RJD and the Congress with over two-thirds majority.”

“They (NDA) have still not learnt any lesson and on case to case basis, their leaders start chanting the pre-determined tune of ‘jungle raj’,” he said.

On rivals’ allegation that killings like those in Gaya and Siwan were occurring in the state as he, fuelled by his prime ministerial ambition, was busy travelling to Dhanbad, Varanasi and Lucknow to attend programmes on prohibition, Kumar shot back saying, “Since taking over as the JD-U president on April 10, I have been out of Bihar for merely 100 hours. So how come you comment about my absence?”

“I am a politician and have the responsibility of a party. Hence, I have to go to places ... Give me one instance that governance has been a casualty because of my going out (of the state) for a short period,” he said.

Kumar said this charge was made against him by people hailing from ‘elite’ class due to his ‘humble’ background. “If anybody points any instance of compromise of governance due to my going out of the state for programmes, I will seek pardon holding my ears,” he said.

Referring to the Siwan journalist’s murder, the Bihar DGP said police efforts were focused on apprehending professional shooters suspected to be involved in the incident, investigating people behind it and motive behind the killing.

On police headquarters receiving a ‘hit list’ containing names of 23 people, including that of Rajdeo Ranjan, allegedly made by Shahabuddin, who is lodged in Siwan jail, he said, “It is an unverified information came in 2014, which after probe was found not true.”

Asked about the use of mobile phone by Shahabuddin inside the jail, the DGP said, “During the recent raids no mobile phone has been found in Siwan jail.”