HC stays Ranchi Police probe against ED officials, seeks response from Jharkhand govt

Ranchi, Jan 16 (IANS): The Jharkhand High Court on Friday put an immediate halt to the Ranchi Police investigation into allegations of assault made by money-laundering accused Santosh Kumar against officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The interim order was passed by Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi while hearing a criminal writ petition filed by the ED, which challenged the FIR registered against its officers and the subsequent actions taken by the state police.

Observing that the functioning of a central investigating agency cannot be disrupted under the pretext of a police probe, the court noted that the ongoing investigation against ED officials could adversely affect the agency’s work. In view of this, the High Court stayed the police proceedings.

The court directed the Jharkhand government to place its response on record within seven days, while the complainant has been given ten days to submit his reply. The case is listed for further hearing on February 9.

The High Court also ordered that security of the ED office in Ranchi be handed over to a central paramilitary force such as the CISF or BSF. The SSP, Ranchi, has been instructed to ensure proper security arrangements at the premises.

The order has come as a relief to two ED officials named in an FIR lodged at the Ranchi Airport Police Station on January 12. The court further instructed the ED to preserve all CCTV recordings related to the incident.

Earlier, the ED approached the High Court alleging “raid-like” action by the Jharkhand Police at its Ranchi office and sought quashing of the FIR, a stay on the police probe, and transfer of the investigation to the CBI.

The matter stems from a complaint filed by Santosh Kumar, a PHED employee and an accused in a money-laundering case, who alleged that he was assaulted and tortured during questioning at the ED office. The ED has denied the allegations. The issue escalated after Ranchi Police reached the ED office, resulting in a tense standoff between the two agencies.

With inputs from  IANS