The ongoing dispute between the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Jharkhand Police has escalated to the Supreme Court of India. The state government has contested a High Court order transferring an investigation against ED officials to the CBI. The matter is pending listing for a hearing at the apex court.
Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi’s order directed the FIR, based on a complaint by Santosh Kumar, to be transferred to the CBI for an independent probe. Santosh Kumar, an employee of the Jharkhand Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, alleged physical and mental harassment by ED officials during questioning.
The Ranchi Police, acting on the complaint, registered an FIR and conducted an operation at the ED office, which the ED criticized as a “raid.” The ED viewed the police action as malicious interference with its operations.
The High Court, considering the sensitive nature of the conflict between the central agency and state police, initially halted the police investigation and later assigned the security of the ED office to paramilitary forces. The ED argued for a CBI probe to ensure impartiality, leading to the High Court’s decision in its favor.
The state government’s challenge to the High Court order sets the stage for a significant legal battle over jurisdictional boundaries and investigative authority between state police and central agencies.
