On Monday, the Jharkhand High Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought an investigation into the assets acquired by former ministers of the Raghubar Das government. The bench, led by Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao and Justice Deepak Roshan, did not find sufficient grounds to continue the legal proceedings initiated by the PIL.
The dismissed PIL was originally filed in 2020 and called for a detailed scrutiny by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) into the assets of five former ministers: Amar Kumar Bauri, Neeraj Yadav, Neelkanth Singh, Louis Marandi, and Randhir Singh, all of whom served under the previous BJP-led administration in Jharkhand.
Upon assuming office, the Hemant Soren-led government had approved the ACB to conduct an investigation into these allegations. Subsequently, the ACB undertook preliminary inquiries and even issued notices to the involved former ministers as part of their investigative process.
The High Court’s decision to dismiss the PIL reflects the judiciary’s assessment after considering the initial steps already taken by the ACB. Details on the specific reasons for the dismissal were not immediately clear, but the ruling effectively puts an end to this particular legal challenge regarding the former ministers’ assets.
This development is significant as it underscores the procedural aspects of how asset scrutiny is handled in cases involving former government officials. The case had attracted public and media attention, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of political figures in the state and their financial dealings during their tenure in office.
