Marandi seeks NIA probe into alleged Sujit Sinha-Anurag Gupta nexus, questions CM on silence

BJP state president and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi accused the Hemant Soren government of shielding a nexus between gangster Sujit Sinha and former DGP Anurag Gupta. He said he will write to the National Investigation Agency seeking a comprehensive probe into what he described as an organised network of extortion, illegal trade and political protection.

Marandi said Gupta’s elevation as DGP during the previous government was the result of a “give and take arrangement”. He alleged that the former police chief was brought in to protect illegal operations involving sand, coal, stone and liquor. He also referred to earlier controversies linked to Gupta, including an alleged degree scandal at Magadh University.

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According to him, the alleged nexus was centred on control of Bharatmala project area and the so-called Koylanchal Shanti Committee. He said it involved petty tenders, stone chips supply, land deals and other illegal activities. Marandi claimed Gupta selected Sujit Sinha to run the operation and held a forty percent stake.

He linked the alleged fake encounter of gangster Aman Sahu to the same turf battle. Marandi said investigators recovered WhatsApp messages between Gupta and Sujit Sinha’s wife, Riya Sinha, which pointed to financial dealings connected to the encounter and extortion.

He said the chats suggested that Gupta was the key figure behind the Koylanchal Shanti Committee. He alleged that even after such information surfaced, the Chief Minister did not act quickly, and that Gupta was removed only after internal disagreements related to illegal earnings.

Marandi said Riya Sinha told investigators that Sujit Sinha demanded extortion from jail and issued threats through Prince Khan. Police arrested her and others on 13 October and recovered three pistols, seven magazines, thirteen cartridges, a car and mobile phones.

He said investigators also found references to 21 foreign weapons allegedly smuggled into Jharkhand from Pakistan using drones and routed via Moga in Punjab. According to him, the gang used these weapons to intimidate businessmen in several states.

Marandi added that Gupta held charge of both CID and ACB. He alleged that CID formed an SIT for land-related probes and used anonymous petitions to target and extort people. He named SSP Deepak Kumar and DSP Amar Pandey for their alleged roles and said the group became so bold that it even threatened individuals linked to the Chief Minister.

He said action against Pandey was taken only after the matter came to light, followed by Deepak Kumar’s transfer from CID to Mohanpur as commandant, and later Gupta’s removal.

Marandi said rising crime, extortion and corruption under political protection have become the hallmark of the current government. He has demanded an NIA investigation into all aspects of the alleged nexus and urged the Chief Minister to order a high-level inquiry into Gupta’s tenure.