The Jharkhand High Court has stayed further proceedings and investigation in connection with a case registered against two officials of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) posted at the Ranchi Zonal Office.
The petition was filed by an Assistant Director and an Assistant Enforcement Officer, challenging the FIR lodged on the complaint of a person who himself is an accused in a large-scale alleged misappropriation of government funds linked to the Peyjal (Drinking Water) Scam and is currently on bail.
The petitioners alleged that the FIR was a retaliatory and pre-planned attempt to derail sensitive money laundering investigations involving influential political figures, including the Chief Minister, former Minister, and senior bureaucrats in Jharkhand. It was submitted that the informant had voluntarily appeared at the ED office, where he allegedly injured himself and later lodged a false criminal case against ED officials.
While noting that High Courts are ordinarily slow in granting interim protection at the FIR stage, Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi observed that the Court “cannot be a mute spectator” in exceptional circumstances such as the present case.
Invoking Section 67 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which grants protection to officials acting in good faith, the Court passed the following key directions:
• Stayed further proceedings and investigation in this case till the next date of hearing.
• Directed the Union Home Secretary to deploy CISF, BSF, or any other suitable paramilitary force at the ED Ranchi office.
• Directed the SSP, Ranchi to ensure security of the ED office, warning that he would be held responsible for any untoward incident.
• Ordered preservation of CCTV footage installed at the ED premises.
• Granted time to the State and the informant to file counter-affidavits.
• Listed the matter next on 09 February 2026.
Appearances
For the Petitioners- Mr. Amit Kumar Das, Advocate Mr. Shivam U. Sahay, Advocate Mr. Saurav Kumar, Advocate Mr. Varun Girdhar, Advocate Mr. Sankalp Goswami, Advocate
For the State- Mr. Kapil Sibal, Sr. Advocate (Through VC) Mr. Manoj Kumar, G.A.-III
For the UOI- Mr. Prashant Pallav, A.S.G.I.
For the Informant- Mr. Sumeet Gadodia, Advocate Mr. Ritesh Kumar Gupta, Advocate Mrs. Shilpi Sandil Gadodia, Advocate Ms. Sanya Kumari, Advocate Mr. Anish Lal, Advocate
