Hazaribagh Court Issues Warrants Against Under Secretary, CM’s Security Inspector, and Four Others in “Fake FIR” Case

HAZARIBAGH—A local court has issued warrants against six high-profile individuals, including an under secretary of the Jharkhand government and a special branch inspector currently deployed in the chief minister’s security detail. The warrants, issued by Judicial Magistrate Vivek Kumar, follow allegations of evidence tampering and the filing of a “fake FIR” related to a 2016 incident in Barkagaon.

High-Profile Officials Named

The warrants target several officials who were stationed in Hazaribagh during the 2016 Chirudih incident:
Kumud Jha: Under Secretary, Drinking Water and Sanitation Department (then Garhwa BDO).

Ramdayal Munda: Inspector, Special Branch (CM’s Security), then SHO of Barkagaon.
Aqeel Ahmed: Inspector, Special Branch.
Akhilesh Singh: Retired DSP.
T. Gopalakrishna: Former General Manager, NTPC. (obtained bail from court today)

The High Court Intervention
The move comes after the Jharkhand High Court, presided over by Justice Anil Choudhary, lifted a previous stay on the proceedings. The High Court not only cleared the way for the lower court’s action but also imposed fines of ₹2,000 on former NTPC GM T. Gopalakrishna and ₹1,000 on Under Secretary Kumud Jha for previous delays.

Allegations of FIR Tampering

The case (Complaint Case No. 1644/22), filed by Mantu Soni, alias Shani Kant, alleges that in May 2016, then-SHO Ramdayal Munda intentionally altered a handwritten complaint submitted by Executive Magistrate Kumud Jha.

Fabricated Names: While Jha’s original application reportedly named only two individuals, the final typed FIR included 29 additional names.

Discrepancies: Evidence presented in court highlighted that while the case diary claimed a handwritten application was received, the official FIR was typed. Furthermore, Kumud Jha testified that his signatures on the FIR and court documents do not match, suggesting forgery by the police clerk at the SHO’s behest.

Legal Consequences

The court has found the accused prima facie guilty under Sections 166, 166A, 167, 218, and 220 of the IPC (related to public servants framing incorrect documents and disobeying law). Previously, the court of Judicial Magistrate Shivani Sharma had summoned the officials, but the matter was delayed due to the High Court stay which has now been vacated.