RANCHI, India, Dec. 30 -- Jharkhand High Court issued the following order on Dec. 1:

1. Heard Mr. Balaji Srinivasan, learned counsel for the appellant and Mr. Amit Kumar Das, learned Special P.P.-NIA.

2. This appeal is directed against the order dated 21-10-2024 passed in Misc. Criminal Application No. 2693/2024 corresponding to Special NIA. No. 01/2021 in connection with RC Case No. RC-01/2021/NIA/RNC arising out of Balumath P.S. Case No. 234/2020 by the learned Special Judge, NIA at Ranchi, whereby and whereunder, the prayer for bail of the appellant has been rejected.

3. It has been alleged that on 18.12.2020 an information was received at Balumath, Police Station that some unknown persons were burning vehicles and firing indiscriminately near Checkpost No. 1 at Tetariakhad Colliery. The miscreants had fired at the Police party that had rushed to the spot and had also burnt 04 trucks, 01 motorcycle and had also injured 04 civilians. From the place of occurrence remnants of burnt vehicles, fragments of a can bomb with wire, spent cartridges, handwritten pamphlets issuing threats to transporters and coal companies involved in mining signed by one Pradeep Ganjhu etc. were found. On inquiry it was revealed that gangster Sujit Sinha and Aman Sao had conspired with Pradeep Ganjhu and his associates namely Santosh Ganjhu (appellant), Pramod Ganjhu and others in disruption of Government work as well as for extortion.

Based on the aforesaid allegations Balumath P.S. Case No. 234/2020 was instituted for the offences punishable u/s 147, 148, 149, 353, 504, 506, 307, 427, 435, 386, 387, 120-B, 121- A, 216 of the IPC, Sections 25(1) (b), 26, 27, 35 of the Arms Act, Sections 3/4 of the Explosive Substances Act, Sections 17 of the CLA Act and Sections 10, 13, 16(1), (b), 20 and 23 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (hereinafter referred to as the UAP Act for the sake of brevity).

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in exercise of powers conferred u/s 6(5) read with Section 8 of the NIA Act vide F. No. 11011/01/2020/NIA dated 07.01.2020 directed the National Investigation Agency to take up investigation of Balumath P.S. Case No. 234/2020 which was reregistered as Case No. 01/2021/ NIA-RNC. Charge-sheet was subsequently submitted against the appellant and other accused persons.

4. It has been submitted by Mr. Balaji Srinivasan, learned counsel appearing for the appellant that the appellant is in custody since 08-02-2024 and he does not have any criminal antecedent. The appellant is a businessman and runs two registered businesses being Om Shanti Trading which works on government contracts and orders and the other being Infra City Private Limited which is into construction business. It has been submitted that the appellant is not named in the First Information Report or in the three charge sheets submitted by the Police and NIA and has been implicated after four years of the occurrence based on independent and separate transactions not related to the bombing incident at Tetariya Khad Colliery. The case of the prosecution against the appellant is of recovery of an amount of Rs. 1,30,00,000/- in cash and some arms and ammunitions and so far as the arms are concerned, the same are licensed and as regards the cash is concerned, the same was the amount received from the persons intending to purchase flats.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=bzPoyUlszYLCUcCpirIpqOTS1H36T8dpkNk8vmp1O8ibqinXfe4FfH5Dimr7prFJ&caseno=Cr.A(DB)/448/2025&cCode=1&cino=JHHC010417232024&state_code=7&appFlag=)

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.