New Delhi: On the very first day of going on air, the Republic TV showed an alleged conversation between RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and criminal turned politician Mohammed Shahabuddin on a tape, in which the latter was purportedly heard of issuing instructions.

The channel aired an audio clip, which it claimed was a conversation that took place between the two when the former Siwan MP was in jail.

The former Bihar chief minister can purportedly be heard taking instructions from Shahabuddin on police action taken during incidents of violence in Siwan.

Although Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose Janata Dal-United is in alliance with the RJD in the state, and Yadav have not responded to the TV report yet, the news has drawn political reactions.

The channel also alleged of having received multiple calls from former Bihar chief minister asking it not to play the tape.

The channel said that Union minister Venkaiah Naidu had said “#LaluTapeExposed has shocked the nation”.

The information and broadcasting minister also congratulated Goswami for Republic TV’s launch.

Similarly, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushil Kumar Modi said Goswami had “exposed” how Yadav took orders from “dreaded criminal” Shahbuddin and questioned whether the Nitish Kumar government would take action against him.

In the past, Yadav has denied having contacted Shahabuddin, who is currently in Delhi’s Tihar Kail now serving a life sentence following conviction in 10 cases. He was shifted to the Capital from Bihar’s Siwan Jail in February for a fair trial after the Supreme Court heard appeals that said he wielded considerable influence and carried on his criminal activities in Siwan even from inside jail.

There are some 45 cases still pending against Shahabuddin. On April 17, he was acquitted in a triple murder case dating back to 1989. The RJD leader was among the eight accused in the case.