Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court on Friday ordered an immediate stay on the Ranchi Police investigation into the alleged assault of money-laundering accused Santosh Kumar at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Ranchi.
The interim relief was granted by a Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi while hearing a criminal writ petition filed by the ED, which challenged the FIR lodged against its officials and the subsequent police proceedings.
During the hearing, the court remarked that the operations of a central investigating agency cannot be hindered in the name of a police inquiry. It further observed that, under the prevailing circumstances, continued police action against ED officials could impede the functioning of the federal agency.
Considering these observations, the High Court stayed the police probe and directed the Jharkhand government to submit its response within seven days. The complainant, Santosh Kumar, has been asked to file his reply within ten days. The matter will be heard next on February 9.
The court also ordered that security at the ED office in Ranchi be entrusted to the CISF, BSF, or any other central armed police force, and instructed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ranchi, to ensure adequate security arrangements.
The order has provided interim relief to two ED officials against whom an FIR was registered at the Ranchi Airport Police Station on January 12. Additionally, the ED has been directed to preserve all CCTV footage related to the incident.
Earlier, the ED had moved the High Court alleging “raid-like” action by the Jharkhand Police at its Ranchi office and sought quashing of the FIR, a stay on the state police probe, and transfer of the investigation to the CBI.
The controversy began after Santosh Kumar, an employee of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department (PHED) and an accused in a money-laundering case, filed an FIR alleging assault and harassment during questioning at the ED office on January 12. The ED has denied all allegations. The situation escalated after Ranchi Police personnel reached the ED office, leading to a tense confrontation.
Wth inputs from IANS