Accompanying the controversial MP was a Siwan assistant jailor and over three dozen security personnel, some who came with the leader while others arrived here earlier by trains, Siwan District Magistrate S. K. Mal said.

It may be recalled that the Patna High Court had, on July 31, directed the Bihar government to send Shahabuddin to the AIIMS after the MP pleaded for mercy killing saying the spinal pain was too acute to bear and he would rather be dead than die of pain in Siwan Jail.

The AIIMS was directed by the court to furnish a report on Shahabuddin's physical condition within two weeks of being admitted in the hospital.

Earlier in the day, Shahabuddin, amidst tight security, was brought to Patna from Siwan in an ambulance. At Patna Airport, however, the airline officials refused to let him board the plane saying they did not have prior security clearance to fly the MP and the airline was not equipped to transport a sick man with a large entourage.

The stalemate was finally broken when the Bihar Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah gave a personal written guarantee to the airlines saying he would take full responsibility of the MP in case something happened to him on the airplane.

The security at the airport was so tight that RJD leader Ejazul Haque had to go back without being able to meet the Siwan MP.

In Delhi, Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) jawans took Shahabuddin in their custody and transported him to the AIIMS where he was admitted and taken to his room in the neurosurgery ward. He will remain under round-the-clock vigil by over 30 SAP jawans.

While a certain quarter in the opposition maintains skepticism over the MP's plea for mercy killing and his eventual transfer to the AIIMS calling it a last minute ditch to delay the trial process, the Patna High Court has ordered trials to be carried on at the hospital via video-conferencing.