An FIR has been registered against former Jharkhand CM and BJP state president Babulal Marandi for allegedly making derogatory and defamatory remarks against the Soren family including Shibu Soren and CM Hemant Soren, reported the news agency PTI. The FIR was filed on August 23, on the complaint of JMM worker Sonu Tirkey. In his complaint, he stated that in a speech published on a Facebook page on August 16, Babulal Marandi used derogatory remarks against the Soren family for his political benefits and this has hurt his as well as tribals' sentiments, reported ANI.
Following his complaint, an FIR was registered at Kanke police station in Ranchi against Marandi under sections 500 (defamation), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), and 504(2) (intentional insult) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), PTI reported.
According to PTI, in his speeches made during BJP’s Sankalp Yatra, Marandi attacked the father-son duo and the JMM-Congress-RJD government in the state. He said the state government "promoted nothing but loot and corruption". The BJP state president commenced the yatra on August 17 from CM's constituency of Barhait. Notably, the yatra will continue till October 10 in different phases, the news agency PTI added in its report.
While hitting out at Soren, the former CM also alleged that a "tribal CM looted the tribals the most" and that law and order has deteriorated. He added that development has come to a standstill under the current JMM-RJD rule in the state.
Meanwhile, reacting to the FIR, BJP said it was the fourth "government-sponsored case" against Marandi, with the other three being lodged in Simdega, Latehar and Deoghar.
BJP claimed that massive support for its Sankalp Yatra is making the ruling dispensation act out of " desperation".
ED Raids Premises Of Jharkhand Finance Minister's Son
On Wednesday, the Enforcement Directorate raided multiple premises linked to the Jharkhand finance minister's son and others in a liquor scam-linked money laundering case. The probe agency raided the premises of Rohit Oraon, son of Jharkhand Minister Rameshwar Oraon, in connection with a liquor scam. Raids took place at multiple locations, including Ranchi, Dumka, and Deoghar, the news agency ANI reported, citing sources.
As per the report, about 34 premises in the state capital Ranchi, Dumka, Deoghar and Godda districts were covered by the officials of the central probe agency along with a security cover of the CRPF, as reported by PTI