Reacting sharply to the reported attempt by the Government to withdraw a criminal case against sitting BJP legislator from Baghmara Dhullu Mahto, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) has termed it an act of sabotaging judicial process.
Addressing a Press conference on Monday party legislative body leader Pradeep Yadav said that the attempt was to protect the MlA from being disqualified from the Assembly.
“The State Government has initiated process to take back criminal charges levelled against Dhullu Mahto which is highly condemnable an act. The police have even filled charge sheet in the cases in the court. Most of the witnesses have given statements against the MlA which is likely to hold him guilty for over two years. The entire exercise is to save the MlA from being disqualified from the Assembly,” said Yadav.
Mahto is facing series of criminal charges against him and as per media reports the public pleader in the case has recommended for withdrawal of the case citing political conspiracy to implicate him wrongly. Mahto was earlier with the JVM and just before the Assembly polls joined the BJP. The JVM then had been critical to the Government for framing Mahto in false cases.
Yadav now nevertheless charges Mahto for indulging in illegal coal trade. “The cases against the MlA are of hooliganism, extortion and illegal coal trade. In the way cases are being taken back, it would only encourage criminals across the State. It would also bring the moral of police down and sabotage the judicial process,” added Yadav.
He also termed the act contrary to the loud claims of the Government that talks about giving officials freehand in dealing with miscreants and set up rule of law. “On the one side the Government talks about controlling illegal coal trade and setup rule of law in the State. But this act has shown true face of the Government. The cases against Dhullu Mahto would sentence him for more than two years and just to save him from disqualified the Government has came in the way of judicial process,” said Yadav.
He added that if the action is not stopped by the Government, the party would knock doors of the court besides raising it in the Assembly. The party would also organise public meetings and hit roads as well.