The Jharkhand High Court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into an FIR lodged against two Enforcement Directorate officials in Ranchi.
Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi passed the order while hearing a criminal writ petition filed by ED Assistant Director Pratik and Assistant Enforcement Officer Shubham Bharti seeking quashing of the FIR or transfer of the investigation to an independent agency.
The FIR was registered at Airport police station on January 13 on the complaint of Santosh Kumar, an accused in an alleged Rs 23 crore misappropriation case related to the Jharkhand drinking water and sanitation department.
Kumar alleged that he was assaulted, wrongfully confined and threatened by ED officials during questioning at the agency’s Ranchi zonal office.
The case was registered under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections related to grievous hurt, wrongful confinement, attempt to murder and criminal intimidation.
Counsel for the ED officers told the court that the allegations were false and intended to obstruct ongoing investigations into alleged financial irregularities involving political figures and bureaucrats in the state.
The petitioners submitted that Kumar had voluntarily appeared before the ED office on January 12 and allegedly struck his own head with a glass water jug during questioning, causing a minor injury.
They also told the court that medical records from Sadar Hospital described the injury as self-inflicted.
Opposing the plea, the state government said law and order is a state subject and the police were competent to investigate the complaint.
The court observed that the case involved serious allegations and competing claims, and said an independent investigation would serve the interests of justice.
It directed that the probe into the FIR be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Earlier, the High Court had stayed further police action in the case and directed that CCTV footage of the ED office premises be preserved.