Sushma Badaik, arrested by Gumla Police in January 2011 on the charges of running a criminal organization named Jharkhand Army, is said to be evading the proceedings against her by not appearing in the court for the last one year. Badaik was first asked to appear on December 23, 2014 for charge framing, since then she has regularly been absent in the court during ten dates fixed for the purpose. December 7, 2015 has been fixed as the next date for hearing on charge-frame against her.
“Even though a chargesheet has been submitted against her, she might be avoiding her appearance deliberately in order to delay charge framing in the case,” said a police official requesting anonymity. Counsels, on the other hand, are of the view that warrant may be issued against her if she fails to appear in the court for a longer period of time. “If she is not appearing in the court, warrant will be issued against her by the court,” said Mini lakra Public Prosecutor in Gumla.
Remarkably, Badaik has been provided police protection to appear in the court following her requests made before the Jharkhand High Court that she has been facing troubles in attending the court as the other accused persons in the case keeps on threatening her on day to day basis.
“As per the directions given by the Jharkhand High Court, we have been asked to provide security to Sushma Badaik during her appearance in the court. We provide her security as and when the requirement is raised from her side,” said Gumla SP Bhimsen Tuti. Badaik hit the national headlines on July 31, 2005 following a sting operation by a news channel showing her in a compromising position with the then Zonal IG of Ranchi PS Natrajan.
In 2011, Gumla police accused Badaik of running a gang of criminals, who were extorting money from the local businessmen by operating as Maoists. Significantly, Sushma had earlier approached National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) but after a thorough inquiry, her case was rejected as the rights body observed that “the allegation of false implication of the complainant in a case relating to extremist activities was not substantiated”.
Badaik presently, has been booked under Sections 384, 385, 386, 387, 112, 506, 120B of Indian Penal Code and sections 25(1)(B), 26 and 35 of Arms Act in case number 265/13 pending at the court of District and Additional Sessions Judge II in Gumla.