Patna, Sep 30 (IANS) Former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin on Friday surrendered in a court in Bihar's Siwan district soon after the Supreme Court cancelled his bail, and was taken into custody by the state police, officials said.
After surrendering in court, Shahabuddin told the media that he respected the apex court's decision.
However, he attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar by saying that his supporters will give him a reply in the next assembly elections.
The former Lok Sabha member said he stood by his earlier comment that "Nitish Kumar is a Chief Minister of circumstances".
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court set aside the Patna High Court's September 7 order granting him bail in the Rajiv Roshan murder case.
The apex court had reserved its order on Thursday after hearing three petitions by Rajiv Roshan's father Chandrakeshwar Prasad, his wife Kalawati Devi and the state government for cancellation of Shahabuddin's bail.
A local Rashtriya Janata Dal leader considered close to Shahabuddin said the criminal-turned-politician surrendered in the Siwan court without delay.
"Unlike in 2003 when he surrendered in the court along with thousands of his supporters, he went alone this time and surrendered."
Early this week, Shahabuddin said he would abide by the apex court's order, whatever it may be.
His supporters were upset over the apex court's order.
According to district police officials, Shahabuddin surrendered in the court even before police could arrest him.
"When a team of security forces led by the District Superintendent of Police reached his residence at Pratappur village, where he was staying after his release from the (Bhagalpur Central) jail, Shahabuddin was not there. His supporters said he had already surrendered in court. It surprised the police."
Last week, the apex court issued notice to Shahabuddin on a plea challenging the grant of bail to him in the murder case.
Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan filed a petition on behalf of Chandrakeshwar Prasad for cancellation of bail on the ground that Shahabiddin will misuse his liberty to derail the case trial and his release posed threat to the petitioner's life.
Shahabuddin is the main accused in the murder of Chandrakeshwar Prasad's third son while he was already convicted in the murder of his two other sons.
The Bihar government also moved the apex court on the bail cancellation issue.
After Justice Jitendra Mohan Sharma of the Patna High Court granted bail to Shahabuddin on September 7, he was released from the Bhagalpur Central Jail on September 10 after spending 11 years in prison.
