Mohammed Taslimuddin
Birth date4 January 1943
Birth placeSisauna, Bihar, British India
Death date17 September 2017 (aged 74)
Death placeChennai, Tamil Nadu, India
OfficeUnion Minister of State for Home Affairs
Term start1 June 1996
Term end9 June 1996
PredecessorMeijinlung Kamson
SuccessorMaqbool Dar
Office 2Union Minister of State for Agriculture
Term start 225 May 2004
Term end 222 May 2009
Predecessor 2Akhilesh Prasad Singh
Successor 2K. V. Thomas
Office 3Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Constituency 3Araria
Term start 316 May 2014
Term end 317 September 2017
Predecessor 3Pradeep Kumar Singh
Successor 3Sarfaraz Alam
Term start 410 May 1996
Term end 426 April 1999
Predecessor 4Syed Shahabuddin
Successor 4Shahnawaz Hussain
Constituency 4Kishanganj
Term start 516 May 2004
Term end 516 May 2009
Predecessor 5Shahnawaz Hussain
Successor 5Asrarul Haq Qasmi
Constituency 5Kishanganj
Office 6Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly
Predecessor 6Nazamuddin
Successor 6Moidur Rahman
Term start 69 February 1969
Term end 631 May 1980
Constituency 6Jokihat
Predecessor 7Moidur Rahman
Successor 7Moidur Rahman
Term start 75 March 1985
Term end 727 February 1990
Constituency 7Jokihat
Predecessor 8Moidur Rahman
Successor 8Sarfaraz Alam
Term start 828 March 1995
Term end 810 May 1996
Constituency 8Jokihat
PartyRashtriya Janata Dal
SpouseAkhtari Begum (m. 1949)
Date17 September
Year2017
Other party

Mohammed Taslimuddin (4 January 1943 – 17 September 2017) was an Indian politician and a veteran RJD leader, along with serving in various other parties as an MLA and MP. 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]

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]

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]

References

  1. ^ "Veteran RJD leader Mohammad Taslimuddin passes away". The Indian Express. PTI. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Veteran RJD leader Mohammad Taslimuddin dies". India Today. PTI. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Mohammed Taslimuddin, RJD strongman and voice of Seemanchal – The Financial Express". financialexpress. financialexpress.com. 18 September 2017.
  4. ^ "RJD MP Mohammad Taslimuddin dies". ABP news. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Crime file haunts Lalu's ministers". The Tribune. 26 May 2004. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Trouble brews for Taslimuddin". The Telegraph. 9 June 2005. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Taslimuddin surrenders, gets bail". The Times of India. 22 November 2004. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Bihar govt withdraws case against Taslimuddin". The Times of India. 23 August 2004. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Union minister Taslimuddin accused of demanding extortion". India Today. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  10. ^ "RJD MP Taslimuddin surrenders in court, released on bail". The Economic Times. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Crime file haunts Lalu's ministers". The Tribune. 26 May 2004. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Bihar govt withdraws case against Taslimuddin". The Times of India. 23 August 2004. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  13. ^ "BJP demands dismissal of Taslimuddin". The Times of India. 22 August 2004. Retrieved 20 October 2025.

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