The Jharkhand government is facing accusations of orchestrating new crimes to cover up its alleged complicity with the coal mafia. State BJP President and Leader of the Opposition, Babu Lal Marandi, claims this has become a systematic approach by the ruling powers. Recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) probes into the illicit coal trade in Dhanbad have exposed a dark underbelly of corruption. The most concerning revelation, according to Marandi, is the alleged directive from influential police officials, who allegedly profit from the mafia’s operations, to ‘permanently remove’ individuals cooperating with the ED. These individuals, currently under interrogation, are reportedly being targeted for elimination to prevent the truth from surfacing. Marandi highlighted a history in Jharkhand of ‘encounter killings’ being used to destroy evidence and protect criminals. He recalled a former DGP whose tenure was marred by allegations of contract killings and record-breaking corruption, claims that were publicly voiced even by ruling party members. He strongly advised the ED to proceed with extreme caution, noting that in Jharkhand, suppressing truth is rewarded, while speaking it is perilous. When the nexus between power, the system, and criminal enterprises becomes too strong, the undermining of justice is easily achieved.
