Surendra Soren
Ranchi
Dumri MLA and Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) president Jairam Kumar Mahto has moved the Dhanbad Civil Court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with a case registered following a confrontation at Barwadda police station.
Three other accused — Sushil Mandal alias Sushil Kumar, Mahendra Saw and Raj Kumar Mandal — have also filed anticipatory bail petitions. Their applications were transferred to the special MP-MLA court on Monday, which is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday.
The case stems from a dispute involving Barwadda’s Bada Pichri panchayat head Yashoda Devi, who alleged that JLKM leader Ganesh Das had used her forged letterhead, seal and signature. Police went to Ganesh Das’s residence on August 21 to serve him a notice, leading to a heated argument and alleged exchange of abuses. He was subsequently taken into custody and sent to jail.
Later the same day, Mahto and supporters of the panchayat head allegedly engaged in a heated confrontation at the Barwadda police station over Ganesh Das’s arrest. Police subsequently registered two FIRs. The second FIR, based on a complaint by the officer-in-charge, named Mahto, 10 others and 40-50 unidentified persons for allegedly obstructing government work.
An audio recording of an alleged conversation between Mahto and Barwadda police station in-charge Ravi Kumar also went viral. Mahto has alleged that the audio was edited before being circulated. The court has sought the case diary, and the MLA’s anticipatory bail plea is likely to remain pending until the next hearing.
Meanwhile, the dispute between the Jharkhand Police Association and the JLKM legislator has intensified. The association’s five-day ultimatum to Mahto to apologise for allegedly using abusive language and issuing threats during a WhatsApp call to the Barwadda officer-in-charge expired on Monday.
As Mahto has not apologised, the association is considering launching a phased agitation. A meeting of its executive committee is scheduled to discuss the next course of action, including measures to protect the dignity of police personnel and seek action against the MLA.
