Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court delivered a major blow to the state government on Wednesday, ordering the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the probe into an FIR filed against Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials.
Justice Dwivedi Rules Against State Interference
Delivering a reserved judgment, Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi directed the CBI to investigate the entire matter, including the FIR registered at the Ranchi Airport police station. The ruling effectively halts the Ranchi Police’s involvement in the case, which the ED had previously labeled as “baseless” and “malicious.”
Background of the Conflict
The legal battle began after Santosh Kumar, an employee of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department and a money-laundering suspect, accused ED officers of assault and mental harassment during a January 12 interrogation.
In a rapid chain of events:
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Ranchi Police filed an FIR and raided the ED office.
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The ED petitioned the High Court, claiming the police acted to obstruct an ongoing federal investigation.
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The High Court stayed the police probe on January 16 and ordered central paramilitary forces to secure the ED office.
Protecting Federal Agencies
The court’s final order reinforces its earlier stance that state authorities must not interfere with the functions of a central investigative agency. Justice Dwivedi also upheld previous orders to preserve all relevant CCTV footage and maintain high-level security around the ED premises.
Senior advocates S.V. Raju represented the ED, while S. Nagamuthu and Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan defended the state’s position.
