The Election Commission's order to shift Member of Parliament Mohammed Shahabuddin from Siwan jail in Bihar was 'an interference in the functioning of the judiciary' Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said on Thursday.

"Shahabuddin is in judicial custody by the order of the court and not the government. I don't understand what has happened to the EC", Lalu said.

The EC ordered the shifting of Shahabuddin from Siwan to either Beur jail in Patna or any jail at a place where polling for assembly elections was over on Thursday.

Siwan is considered to be a Shahabuddin stronghold and the opposition parties allege that he is capable of influencing polls from jail.

Janta Dal (United) president George Fernandes welcomed the EC's order alleging that the jailed MP was a threat to a fair and peaceful poll in Siwan district.

WITH INPUTS FROM PTI