Hiding behind a burqa, alleged sharpshooter Mohammad Kaif, who was declared an absconder last week amid an outcry over his photographs with gangster-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin, dodged the police dragnet and surrendered in a Siwan court on Wednesday.

Kaif, also known as Bunty, is wanted by the police in connection with the murder of Siwan journalist Rajdev Ranjan. He surrendered in connection with an extortion case in which a warrant of arrest was pending against him. Last week, the police attached Kaif's property on the order of the chief judicial magistrate, who declared him an absconder in the extortion case.

Chief judicial magistrate Arvind Kumar Singh sent him to judicial custody for 14 days. Kaif, who runs a cricket training institute in Siwan town, had sparked a controversy after his pictures with Shahabuddin, the don-turned-RJD leader, and health minister Tej Pratap Yadav - the elder son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad - were splashed in the media.

Siwan superintendent of police Saurav Kumar Shah said Kaif, who is in his mid-twenties, surrendered in the court under police pressure. The police had tightened security around the court to nab Kaif. However, the wanted man managed to hoodwink the security personnel by wearing a burqa and deposed before the chief judicial magistrate, who sent him to Siwan district jail.

"Since the Rajdev Ranjan murder case has been handed over to the CBI, we are not interested in taking him on police remand," a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity.

Police investigations have revealed that Kaif was involved in the murder of Ranjan, the Siwan bureau chief of Hindustan . The journalist, who had written several articles against Shahabuddin, was shot dead on May 13 this year. The mobile call details of Kaif had confirmed that he had contacted the journalist over phone before the incident. "His mobile phone location also hinted at his involvement in the case," said an investigating officer who didn't wish to be named.

The name of Kaif has also been mentioned in the case diary submitted to the court in connection with the murder.

Kaif, who spoke to some local journalists in Siwan when underground, claims he has been framed and that he is a victim of a political conspiracy.

"I am a cricketer and I have nothing to do with the murder of Rajdev Ranjan," he told reporters in Siwan.

"The local people as well as journalists know that I am not a criminal. Rajdev Ranjan had good relations with me. He had also attended my wedding."

On his pictures with Shahabuddin, Kaif had told these journalists: "I went to Bhagalpur as his supporter. I had even asked my lawyer for advice before I went there."