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The Supreme Court dismissed Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Mohammed Sahabuddin's petition challenging the Bihar government's decision to conduct his trial in various criminal cases against him in Siwan jail.
A division bench headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari upheld the state government's decision to hold criminal trial against the former MP in the jail.
The apex court said the notification issued by the government and the Patna High Court for shifting his trial is valid and the High Court is empowered to change the venue of trial.
Although the apex court said that in criminal cases, public and open trial is a must, in extraordinary circumstances it can be held within the jail premises.
Forty-two-year-old Sahabuddin is facing trial in over 40 criminal cases under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code.