A serious allegation has been leveled against the Jharkhand government by Babu Lal Marandi, the state BJP President and Leader of the Opposition. Marandi claims that the government is actively creating new crimes to conceal existing illegal activities, particularly within the state’s coal sector. Recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) actions in the ‘black empire’ of Dhanbad’s coal trade have unearthed alarming evidence. More disturbingly, it is reported that certain high-ranking police officials, allegedly benefiting financially from the coal mafia’s illicit earnings, have issued ‘targets’ to eliminate ground-level operatives of these mafias. This alleged directive aims to prevent these operatives from cooperating with the ED and revealing the truth about the deep-rooted corruption. Marandi expressed grave concern, stating that there are credible reports of plots to assassinate individuals being interrogated by the ED, thereby silencing them and suppressing crucial evidence. He drew parallels to past instances in Jharkhand where ‘encountering evidence’ was disguised as apprehending criminals. The state has a history of seeing police chiefs accused of orchestrating ‘supari’ (contract) killings and setting new benchmarks for corruption, allegations even made by members of the ruling party. Marandi urged the ED to exercise extreme caution, highlighting that in Jharkhand, those who suppress the truth, rather than those who speak it, often hold power. When the government, the system, and criminal elements align, the perversion of justice becomes a mere formality.
