Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Nov 21′: The sealing of Hotel Atithi Bhawan in Bhuiyadih, Nirmalnagar has turned into a major legal setback for the Jamshedpur police administration.
Hearing a writ petition filed by hotel owner Anjana Bhuiyan — wife of former Jharkhand revenue minister Dulal Bhuiyan — the Jharkhand High Court issued stern remarks against the police’s conduct in the case.
A single bench of Justice Sanjay Prasad observed that the police had failed to follow due legal procedures, raising questions over their ability to maintain law and order.
The court has directed the State Director General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police, Jamshedpur, and Sitaramdera Police Station in-charge Vinay Prasad Mandal to appear in person on November 26 and explain their actions.
The case dates back to the night of July 12, 2024, when SDO Dhalbhum Parul Singh, DSP Niranjan Kumar and a Sitaramdera police team conducted a surprise raid on the hotel.
Three rooms were sealed and five young men and women staying there were detained. They were later released on PR bond.
More controversy surfaced when a formal FIR was filed only after 40 days — on August 17, 2024 — naming the hotel owner as the main accused.
The police booked the case under Sections 20(ii)/27 of the NDPS Act and Sections 3/7 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
The police claimed that brown sugar and cannabis were recovered from the sealed rooms.
Representing the petitioner, advocate Zaid Imam argued that delayed registration of the FIR, failure to arrest the accused and violation of standard procedures reflect serious misconduct by the police.
The court questioned Assistant Advocate General Ashutosh Anand on behalf of the state, asking why the detained individuals were released merely on PR bond if illegal substances and immoral activities were indeed found. Calling the police actions highly negligent, the court expressed strong dissatisfaction with the manner in which the case was handled.
It is noteworthy that Anjana Bhuiyan has already secured anticipatory bail in the matter.
