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Controversial RJD MP Mohammed Shahabuddin was on Thursday convicted by a local court for assaulting a CPI-ML office secretary Keshav Baitha eight years ago.

The duration of the sentence, which will determine the political future of the three-time MP, would be announced on Friday.

Abhay Kumar Rajan, counsel for Shahabuddin, however, said that on availability of a copy of the judgement, an appeal will be filed. The special trial court of First Class Judicial Magistrate Vishwa Vibhuti Gupta held Shahabuddin guilty after the completion of trial.

The trial was conducted inside Siwan jail, where Shahabuddin has been lodged since November 2005. Talking to media persons at the Siwan jail gate, Additional Advocate General Ram Bilash Mahto said Shahabuddin had been convicted under section 147, 323, 341, 342, 448 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

This is the biggest conviction in the State in the last one year since the process of speedy trial commenced. The FIR in the case was filed on October 7, 1998 on the statement of Baitha under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 448 (house trespass) of IPC and Arms Act.

It is for the first time that the Siwan MP, facing over 30 cases, including those of murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and violation of Foreign Exchange Act and Arms Act, has been convicted in any case.

The Siwan administration had twice booked him under the Crime Control Act on February 18, 2005 and October 6, 2005. The chargesheets have been filed in three other cases against him as well.

The case, in which Shahabuddin has been convicted, relates to an attack on CPI-ML's office at Khurmabad in Siwan town on September 19, 1998 in which Shahabuddin and his 20 armed supporters were alleged to have exploded bombs, damaged furniture and assaulted the office secretary, who was also abducted and later released.

The AAG said that the prosecution had examined three witnesses, including Kaushaliya Devi, mother of slain former students leader of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Chandrasekhar. Shabuddin is facing trial in the Chandrashekhar murder case as well.

The JNU president was shot dead in Siwan on March 31, 1997. The other two witnesses were Baitha and Gaya Prasad SI and investigating officer (IO) of the case.

Email Arun Kumar: arunkr@hindustantimes.com