Officials of the Siwan jail and district police conducted raids at 4.30 am when most inmates were sleeping. Other than the 37 mobile phones, they also seized 10 extra SIM cards, 19 chargers, 15 telephone diaries, seven mobile batteries, about eight sharp-edged weapons and one headphone. According to District Magistrate Vandana Preyasi, this is the biggest haul of phones from any Bihar jail.

Siwan SSP Umesh Kumar said: “Besides ward No 18—where Shahabuddin is lodged, ward Nos 20 and 21 have also been taken over by the MP.” He added, “Though no phone was found in Shahabuddin’s possession, we are almost sure he uses some numbers.” Convicted in four cases, the MP is serving a life sentence for the murder of CPI(ML) Chhote Lal Gupta.