Babulal Marandi, leader of the opposition in Jharkhand, has accused the state government of a deliberate strategy to fabricate new crimes in an attempt to conceal ongoing illegal activities. He contends that the government and its systemic apparatus have normalized the practice of creating false offenses to divert attention from genuine criminal enterprises. The recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigations into the extensive coal operations in Dhanbad have reportedly yielded significant and damaging evidence. The situation has taken a darker turn with reports suggesting that senior police officials, allegedly enriched by the illegal coal trade, have tasked their associates with the ‘elimination’ of certain ground-level operatives of the coal mafia. This alleged conspiracy aims to prevent any testimony that could expose the depth of the criminal network. Reports indicate that individuals cooperating with the ED are now facing threats of assassination, designed to ensure that the truth is never revealed. Marandi reminisced about past instances where fabricated encounters were used to eliminate witnesses, a tactic he claims has been employed previously in the state. He recalled allegations against a former DGP concerning contract killings and unprecedented levels of corruption, even from within the ruling coalition. He strongly advised the ED to operate with extreme caution, warning that the prevailing system favors those who suppress facts over those who uncover them. When power structures, the state apparatus, and criminal elements converge, the subversion of justice becomes a foregone conclusion.
