PATNA: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday has taken up the investigation of Siwan journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder case.
Bihar chief minister
Nitish Kumar recommended the case to be taken up by the
CBI on May 16 while 10 days after the recommendation Bihar police arrested five shooters who allegedly killed Rajdeo on May 13 in Siwan.
An official with the CBI in Delhi told TOI over phone, “We have taken up the investigation of the murder case of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan. A team of CBI will soon leave for Siwan from Patna. However the FIR is yet to be registered with the CBI."
Rajdeo, Siwan district bureau chief of a Hindi daily, was shot dead at the fruit market in Siwan. The 42-year-old was fired at when he was travelling on his bike at around 7:45 PM. The bullets hit Ranjan on the head and neck, and he died on the way to hospital.
Following the murder of Rajdeo, Siwan jail was raided, several mobile phones including international SIM cards were recovered from the jail premises. Recently released former RJD MP and strongman
Mohammad Shahabuddin
was shifted to Bhagalpur Special central jail from Siwan jail while seven of his alleged close associates were also shifted to other jails from Siwan jail.
Azharuddim Beg alias Laddan Mian, the prime suspect and conspirator in the killing who reportedly gave the contract to the shooters surrendered in court in June. Laddan Mian allegedly worked as a henchman for Mohammad Shahabuddin, the former RJD MP of Siwan.
Surprisingly Bihar police is still unaware about the development in the case. ADG (HQ)
Sunil Kumar told TOI, “CM only recommended but CBI yet not taken up the case. We have filed the chargesheet against the arrested persons and the investigation is still on."