The Jharkhand government is facing severe criticism from opposition leader Babulal Marandi, who alleges that the administration is resorting to fabricating new crimes to hide its failure in controlling actual criminal activities. Marandi contends that the government and the system have made a habit of constructing fake offenses to obscure the truth. The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) recent probes into the deeply entrenched coal mafia in Dhanbad have allegedly uncovered critical evidence supporting these claims. A particularly disturbing report suggests that some top police officials, reportedly enriched by illicit coal dealings, have issued ‘termination orders’ for key associates of the coal mafia. The objective appears to be the elimination of individuals who could testify against the kingpins, thereby preventing the ED from uncovering the full extent of the corruption. This tactic of staging ‘evidence destruction encounters’ mirrors past incidents in the state. Jharkhand is no stranger to controversy, having previously had a DGP accused of orchestrating contract killings and being the most corrupt official, a sentiment reportedly shared even by ruling party members. The ED’s investigation demands heightened caution, as the prevailing environment favors the suppression of truth over its revelation. When the nexus between political power, administrative machinery, and criminal enterprises solidifies, the denial of justice becomes a foregone conclusion.
