The Jharkhand government is facing accusations from the opposition of actively fabricating new criminal incidents to obscure the extent of its involvement or negligence in existing illegal operations. Babulal Marandi, BJP State President and Leader of the Opposition, stated that the creation of new offenses to mask underlying problems has become a systemic issue in Jharkhand. Recent raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Dhanbad coal belt have reportedly uncovered compelling evidence. A particularly sinister aspect involves allegations that key police figures, allegedly enriched by the coal mafia’s illicit earnings, have sanctioned the permanent ‘removal’ of certain operatives. This is reportedly to prevent any testimony that could expose the extent of the criminal enterprise. Reports indicate that individuals undergoing questioning by the ED are now facing assassination plots designed to stifle any potential revelations. Marandi drew parallels to past incidents in the state where staged ‘encounters’ were used to eliminate evidence rather than capture culprits. He alluded to a former DGP who was accused of orchestrating paid encounters, with widespread condemnation, even from within the ruling coalition, labeling him the most corrupt in Jharkhand’s history. Marandi advised the ED to proceed with extreme caution, noting that the state’s power structure favors those who suppress truth over those who bring it to light. He concluded that when governance, law enforcement, and organized crime converge, the subversion of justice is almost assured.
