CBI Court Convicts Ex-Jharkhand Minister Enos Ekka, Wife, and 7 Others in Tribal Land Scam

Ranchi: A special CBI court in Ranchi on Friday found former Jharkhand Minister Enos Ekka, his wife Menon Ekka, and seven others — including senior government officers — guilty in a tribal land scam involving massive violations of the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT Act).

All nine were immediately taken into judicial custody after the verdict. The court will announce the quantum of punishment on Saturday.

Ekka, a tribal leader from Simdega, served as a minister in the Arjun Munda and Madhu Koda cabinets between 2005 and 2008. According to the CBI charge sheet, he exploited his position to illegally acquire large tracts of tribal land through benami transactions and fake addresses, often using his wife’s name.

Investigations revealed that between March 2006 and May 2008, land parcels were fraudulently purchased in the name of Menon Ekka — including 22 kattha in Hinoo, 12 acres in Ormanjhi, 4 acres in Nevri, and 9 decimals in Siram Toli. These deals were allegedly facilitated by then Deputy Collector of Land Reforms, Karthik Kumar Prabhat, in direct violation of the CNT Act.

The court upheld the CBI’s case after reviewing evidence and witness statements. Special Public Prosecutor Priyanshu Singh argued that the fraudulent transactions were carried out with the complicity of administrative officials, undermining the laws designed to protect tribal land rights.

The CNT Act, 1908, strictly prohibits the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals and even imposes heavy restrictions on transactions within the tribal community itself. It is regarded as a vital safeguard against exploitation of Jharkhand’s indigenous population.

With inputs from IANS