In a significant development, the Jharkhand High Court on Friday remarked that the recent police raid on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Ranchi prima facie appeared to be “preplanned”.
Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, while hearing a writ petition filed by the ED, directed the central agency to implead the Union Home Secretary in the case. The court further ordered the Home Secretary to deploy paramilitary forces—such as the CRPF or BSF—to secure the ED’s office and ensure the safety of its officers.
The court also directed Ranchi’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rakesh Ranjan to guarantee proper security for the central agency. In a strong message, Justice Dwivedi warned that any lapse in the security of the ED premises or its officials would lead to direct accountability of the SSP.
The High Court stayed the ongoing police investigation based on an FIR registered at the Airport police station against ED officials. The FIR was filed by Santosh Kumar, a former employee of the Jharkhand government, who had alleged misconduct and torture by ED personnel during interrogation.
The Enforcement Directorate had approached the High Court on Thursday, accusing the state police of “direct interference” with its functioning. The ED sought a CBI investigation into the police raid on its premises, which it termed unprecedented and retaliatory.
The ED’s counsel informed the court that the agency was probing a ₹23 crore scam allegedly involving the complainant Santosh Kumar. He further stated that ₹9 crore had already been recovered in connection with the case.
