Breaking | Jharkhand High Court Orders Paramilitary Force At ED Ranchi Office Following Police Raid, Stays FIR Against Officials

The Jharkhand High Court has stayed further investigation and proceedings in an FIR registered by the State Police against Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials. The Court also directed the Home Secretary, Government of India, to depute CISF or BSF, or any other suitable paramilitary force, at the Directorate of Enforcement office in Ranchi. The order comes in the backdrop of the Jharkhand Police entering the ED office and treating the premises as a crime scene.A Single Judge Bench of the Jharkhand High Court comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi was hearing a petition seeking quashing of an FIR registered by the State Police for alleged offences under Sections 109(2), 117(2), 115(2), 127(2), 351(2), 352, 238 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. In the alternative, the petitioners sought transfer of the investigation to an independent agency, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).In the present case, they alleged that the FIR informant, Santosh Kumar, is the principal accused in a misappropriation of around Rs. 23 crores from the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Government of Jharkhand. The petitioners claimed that although Santosh Kumar was not summoned, he appeared at the ED office on his own and struck a glass water jug against his own head during questioning, following which a false and malicious FIR was lodged against ED officials under various provisions of the BNS, 2023.The petitioners alleged that on 15.01.2026 at around 6:00 AM, following a late-night communication, a substantial police force arrived at the Directorate of Enforcement premises and attempted to treat it as a crime scene, which disrupted the functioning of the Central agency. It was urged that this was a pre-planned tactic to obstruct ongoing investigations involving high-profile State functionaries and that the Court's intervention was necessary to ensure protection to the Directorate of Enforcement officials and the office premises.In its interim observations, the Court noted that High Courts are ordinarily slow in granting interim protection at the initial stage of an FIR. However, the Court added that in cases such as the present one, it could not remain a “mute spectator”. The Court noted:“Section 67 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act protects the Government officials if in good faith, they are acting under the said Act…In the aforesaid background, the Home Secretary, Government of India is directed to depute either CISF or BSF or any other para military force, whichever is suitable at the office of the Directorate of Enforcement, Ranchi.”The Court further directed the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranchi, to look into the security of the said office. It was clarified that if any untoward incident occurs at the premises, the SSP, Ranchi would be held liable. The Court also directed that the CCTV footage installed at the Directorate of Enforcement premises be preserved.Eventually, the Court stayed further proceedings and investigation by the State Police in connection with the FIR. The matter has been listed for further hearing on 09.02.2026.Title: Pratik & Anr v State of Jharkhand & Ors.Case Number: W.P. (Cr.) Filing No. 1059 of 2026.Appearances: Mr Amit Kumar Das, Mr Shivam U. Sahay, Mr Saurav Kumar, Mr Varun Girdhar, and Mr Sankalp Goswami appeared for the Petitioners. Mr Kapil Sibal, Senior Advocate, and Mr Manoj Kumar appeared for the State. Mr Prashant Pallav appeared for the Union of India. Mr Sumeet Gadodia, Mr Ritesh Kumar Gupta, Mrs Shilpi Sandil Gadodia, Ms Sanya Kumari, and Mr Anish Lal appeared for the Informant.Click Here To Read/Download Order

Breaking | Jharkhand High Court Orders Paramilitary Force At ED Ranchi Office Following Police Raid, Stays FIR Against Officials

Rushil Batra

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