Mohammed Taslimuddin

Mohammed Taslimuddin (4 January 1943 – 17 September 2017) was an Indian politician and a veteran RJD leader. He hailed from the village of Sisauna in the Araria district of Bihar. He started his political career as a sarpanch and was elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1969, serving as an MLA eight times. In 1989, he was first elected to the Lok Sabha from the Purnia constituency. He was thrice elected as an MP from the Kishanganj constituency in 1996, 1998 and 2004. He served his final stint as an MP in the 16th Lok Sabha after being elected from the Araria constituency.^[1]

Mohammed Taslimuddin
Mohammed in 2007
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office 16 May 2014 – 17 September 2017
Preceded by	Pradeep Kumar Singh
Succeeded by	Sarfaraz Alam
Constituency	Araria
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office 1996–1998
Preceded by	Syed Shahabuddin
Constituency	Kishanganj
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office 1998–1999
Preceded by	Himself
Succeeded by	Shahnawaz Hussain
Constituency	Kishanganj
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office 2004–2009
Preceded by	Shahnawaz Hussain
Succeeded by	Asrarul Haq Qasmi
Constituency	Kishanganj
Personal details
Born	(1943-01-04)4 January 1943 Sisauna, Bihar, British India
Died	17 September 2017(2017-09-17) (aged 74) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Political party	Rashtriya Janata Dal
Spouse	Akhtari Begum (m. 1949)
Children	7
Residence	Araria
As of 17 September, 2017

He died on 17 September 2017 at the age of 74 after being treated for respiratory problems in Chennai. He was buried with state honours on 19 September 2017 at his birthplace in Sisauna jokihat.^[2]

Political history

Mohammed Taslimuddin was born in 1943, Sisauna village of district Araria, Bihar. In the year 1969, it was the first time he was elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly as a Congress nominee. In the year 1989, he was elected as a Janata Dal candidate from district Purnea, Bihar also in the years of 1996, 1998, 2004 and 2014. In the year 1995, he won from the Jokihat seat as a Samajwadi Party candidate. In the year 1996, he fought Lok Sabha seat as a Janata Dal nominee from Kishanganj and he won. In the year 1996, in the government of HD Deve Gowda, he was a Union Minister of state for home affairs.He was Minister of Agriculture and Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution during 2004 to 2009 in Manmohan Singh's government. ^[3][4]

Legal issues and allegations

Throughout his political career, Taslimuddin faced several criminal allegations. According to a 2004 report by The Tribune, he had 11 pending cases involving serious charges such as attempted murder, extortion, and violations of the Arms Act and the Cheating Act.^[5]

One of the earliest reported cases dates back to 1996, when an FIR alleged that Taslimuddin and about 15 supporters entered Rajokhar village in Araria district, opened fire, and hurled bombs. Authorities reportedly recovered used cartridges and explosives at the scene.^[6]

In November 2004, Taslimuddin surrendered before a court in Patna in connection with a cheque dishonour case, after a non-bailable warrant had been issued against him. He was granted bail on a personal bond.^[7]

The same year, the Bihar state government, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), formally withdrew a separate criminal case against him, citing lack of evidence and a withdrawal by the complainant.^[8]

In December 2008, a private construction company filed an FIR alleging that Taslimuddin demanded ₹2 crore in extortion from a ₹64 crore road construction project in Araria. He reportedly threatened the company's engineers. Taslimuddin denied the charges.^[9]

In August 2014, he surrendered before a Fast-Track Court in Kishanganj in connection with a 2009 election code violation case. He was later granted bail.^[10]

Alleged political support

Taslimuddin's appointment as Union Minister of State in the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government in 2004 attracted criticism due to the number of serious cases pending against him at the time.^[11] Despite this, he was inducted into the Council of Ministers.

Additionally, the RJD-led Bihar government withdrew at least one criminal case against him in 2004, following a meeting chaired at the Chief Minister’s residence.^[12]

Opposition parties, including the BJP, demanded his removal from the Union cabinet citing the issuance of non-bailable warrants and attachment orders in some cases.^[13]