The Jharkhand state government is being accused of fabricating new criminal narratives to obscure the reality of ongoing illegal activities, particularly those involving the coal mafia. This strong accusation comes from Babu Lal Marandi, the state president of the BJP and Leader of the Opposition. He asserts that the creation of fabricated criminal events has become a deliberate tactic employed by the government and its supporting systems. The recent crackdown by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Dhanbad’s lucrative coal sector has unearthed significant evidence of wrongdoing. A particularly troubling report suggests that ‘top police brass,’ allegedly benefiting from the illicit coal trade, have issued directives to permanently silence key operatives of the coal mafia. This alleged move is intended to prevent these individuals from cooperating with the ED and revealing damaging truths. There are credible reports indicating that those currently being interrogated by the ED are themselves targets of assassination plots, designed to ensure the ongoing cover-up. This echoes past controversies in Jharkhand involving ‘evidence encounters’ aimed at silencing witnesses. The state has previously had a DGP accused of orchestrating extrajudicial killings for hire and of unparalleled corruption, criticisms that even came from within the ruling party. The ED is strongly advised to maintain a high level of alertness, as the prevailing system prioritizes the suppression of truth over its revelation. When power structures, official machinery, and organized crime operate in collusion, the subversion of justice is tragically common.
