ED vs Ranchi Police: Assault allegations trigger face-off at central agency office

A confrontation-like situation emerged in Ranchi on Thursday after the city police reached the regional office of the Enforcement Directorate to investigate allegations of assault against its officials, intensifying tensions between the central agency and local law enforcement.

The move followed an FIR lodged at the Airport police station by Santosh Kumar, a resident of Upper Chutia, who accused two ED officials of physically assaulting him during questioning on January 12. The case has been registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

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Acting on the complaint, a special team of Ranchi Police led by the Sadar Deputy Superintendent of Police, along with the Airport Police Station in-charge and inspectors, entered the ED office on Thursday morning. Police officials said CCTV footage from the premises was examined and seized, while documents and digital records were also scrutinised. Statements of officials concerned were recorded as part of the preliminary investigation.

According to the complaint, the complainant alleged that he was summoned to the ED office for questioning and was pressured to confess. He claimed that on refusing, he was beaten, abused, and assaulted with a stick, leaving him seriously injured. He further alleged that ED officials took him to Sadar Hospital, threatened medical staff, did not inform his family for several hours, and later attempted to destroy evidence by changing his bloodstained clothes.

Meanwhile, the police action drew sharp political reactions. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and BJP leader Babulal Marandi alleged that the ED office on Airport Road had been “surrounded” by the police and claimed that crucial evidence related to alleged corruption cases involving Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the state administration was present inside the premises.

In a post on X, Marandi expressed apprehension that the police action could be used as a cover to tamper with or destroy sensitive evidence. He also alleged that false cases had earlier been lodged against the ED in Jharkhand and that attempts had been made to obstruct the agency’s work. Calling for central intervention, he urged the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure the deployment of central forces for the security of the ED office.

Police officials said the investigation into the assault allegations is ongoing, and all claims are being verified through medical records, CCTV footage, and witness statements. The Enforcement Directorate did not issue an official response till the filing of this report.