The Janata Dal (United) on Monday issued a notice to party MLA Giridhari Yadhav, asking him to explain why he went to receive former Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Mohammad Shahabuddin from a Bihar jail on Saturday, ANI reported. The ruling party in the state said it was considering retributive action against Yadhav, according to The Times of India. JD(U) spokesperson Sanjay Kumar Singh said, "The JD(U) leadership has taken note of our MLA Giridhari Yadhav being seen in the company of Shahabuddin at the time of the latter's release from jail."

Shahabuddin criticised JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar soon after he was released from prison on Saturday in a murder case. He said Kumar was a "chief minister of circumstances" and that RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was his only leader. When Shahabuddin was sent to jail in 2005, Kumar – then in an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party – took credit for ending his reign of terror and bringing law and order to a state known otherwise for "jungle raj". The state is run by a coalition comprising JD(U), RJD and the Congress.

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The former parliamentarian was granted bail by the Patna High Court last week after nearly 11 years in prison. The Siwan MP was sent to jail in November 2005 in connection with the murder of two brothers in his native village in the district. He was granted bail in connection with the murder of a prime witness in that case. With Shahabuddin's release, parents of the deceased brothers have expressed fears of being murdered, ANI reported.

Meanwhile, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Modi vowed, on Monday, to organise a "Vishaal Dharna", seeking the state's intervention in revoking Shahabuddin's bail, ANI reported. BJP members said they would meet the state governor as part of their bid to challenge the order.