Hearing a PIl related to pending criminal cases against politicians in the State, Jharkhand High Court on Thursday ordered State Director General of Police (DGP) DK Pandey to file a status report in this regard on May 1, with a direction to be present physically in the court, if he failed to do so. Social watchdog Jharkhand against Corruption had filed a PIl pleading to expedite the criminal cases pending against the MlAs, who were elected in 2014 Assembly Elections.
"The DGP has been asked to file a status report stating how many cases against MlAs are under investigation, trial of how many cases is still on and also the number of cases in which trial has been concluded. The DGP also has to tell in the status report that chargesheet in how many cases have been filed in the respective courts and in how many cases, charge sheet has not been filed despite completion of investigations," said petitioner's advocate Rajiv Kumar.
According to the information submitted by the social watchdog prepared on the basis of affidavits submitted by the MlAs before the Election Commission during filing their nominations, FIRs had been lodged against 55 out of 81 MlAs in the State, out of which there were cases of molestation against 3 MlAs, charges of attempt to murder against seven MlAs and murder cases against 3 MlAs.
"The DGP has been asked to be present physically in the Court on May 1, if he failed to submit the status report on that very date," Kumar said. India against Corruption in his petition has demanded that the pending criminal cases against the MlAs should be heard on day to day basis as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court of India, he added. The case will be heard next on May 1.