Jharkhand HC Orders CBI Probe into FIR Against ED Officers

Ranchi: Jharkhand high court on Wednesday ordered state police to handover the investigation of a case lodged against officers of Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).The bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi gave the direction while hearing a petition filed by ED assistant director Pratik and assistant enforcement officer Shubham Bharti who have challenged the FIR registered against them by Santosh Kumar.ED is at present investigating cases involving the chief minister, ministers, senior bureaucrats, IPS officers, the agency’s counsels said. Santosh Kumar, an employee of the drinking water and sanitation department, is under the agency’s scanner in a an alleged scam of Rs 23 crore.

ED sleuths have so far recovered Rs 9 crore in connection with the case.Kumar had visited the ED office on Jan 12 at 1:20 pm. He later went and registered a complaint with Airport police station alleging he was tortured and assaulted by ED officers.Police on Jan 15 conducted a search at the ED office at 6 am. The police action was reported to the authorities and a writ petition was filed before the HC in this connection. During the course of arguments, the court was informed that Santosh was never summoned or called by the ED and he had come of his own accord on Jan 12.

Justice Dwivedi had heard the matter on Feb 24 and reserved his order. The court had earlier observed that it cannot be a “mute spectator” to the actions of police which registered an FIR against ED officers. The HC had ordered the Ranchi SSP to ensure that ED officers are given proper security.