Babulal Marandi Accuses Ex-DGP Anurag Gupta of Running Criminal Syndicate Under Govt Shield

Ranchi — Launching a sharp attack on the Hemant Soren-led government, Jharkhand BJP president and Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi on Thursday alleged that former DGP Anurag Gupta operated a criminal and extortion network under state protection.

Addressing reporters in Ranchi, Marandi claimed that under the current regime, Jharkhand has been engulfed by illegal mining, land scams, and systemic corruption. He said that Anurag Gupta, during his tenure, used the police system as a cover for organised crime.

The BJP leader alleged that Gupta was retained as DGP in violation of UPSC guidelines, even after retirement, and was simultaneously given control of the CID and Anti-Corruption Bureau. “Through these two wings, he managed a massive extortion ring spread across the state,” Marandi alleged.

He further claimed that Gupta’s selection as DGP was a politically motivated appointment, based on an understanding with the ruling leadership. Referring to the Bharatmala highway project, Marandi said: “Out of all the extorted funds, 40 per cent went to Anurag Gupta, while the rest was shared among higher-ups.”

Marandi alleged that Gupta had close ties with jailed gangster Sujit Sinha and was deeply involved in illegal coal, sand, and mineral smuggling. He added that Gupta “personally monitored the criminal operations that terrorised local businessmen and contractors.”

The BJP leader also claimed that the encounter of criminal Aman Sahu was linked to this nexus, calling it a cover-up to protect ongoing illegal rackets.

“This is not merely a corruption case — it’s a threat to state security,” Marandi said, urging the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the probe into Gupta’s alleged links with Sujit Sinha and the Aman Sahu case.

Marandi also alleged that the state government possessed an audio recording of a conversation between Anurag Gupta and Riya Sinha, wife of Sujit Sinha, but had suppressed it.

He accused the Hemant Soren government of harbouring and protecting a ‘uniformed don’ and creating a statewide extortion network under official cover.

The Chief Minister’s Office has yet to issue any statement on the allegations.

With inputs from IANS