SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, June 4: The Jharkhand High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against six senior Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) officials in connection with the death of a protester during a demonstration by members of the Visthapit Apprentice Sangh in Bokaro on April 3, 2025.
Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay, while hearing two connected writ petitions, set aside the FIR lodged in B.S. City P.S. Case No. 64 of 2025 against the officials, holding that there was no material to suggest that they had ordered or instigated the alleged lathi-charge by CISF personnel.
Death During Protest Triggered Criminal Case
The case arose from a protest staged by members of the Visthapit Apprentice Sangh outside the administrative building of Bokaro Steel Plant, where demonstrators were demanding employment for displaced families.
An FIR alleged that CISF personnel resorted to a lathi-charge on the instructions of senior BSL officials, resulting in the death of Prem Kumar Mahto and injuries to several others.
Court Relies on CCTV, Drone Footage and Case Diary
The High Court examined the case diary, witness statements, CCTV footage and drone recordings submitted during the proceedings.
The court noted that available evidence indicated the agitators had become aggressive, allegedly engaging in vandalism and attacking security personnel. It observed that there was no evidence directly linking the petitioners to the use of force by CISF personnel.
The judgment further stated that the allegations against the officials were vague and unsupported by substantive material.
Continuation of Proceedings Would Be Abuse of Process: Court
Referring to recent Supreme Court rulings on quashing criminal proceedings, the High Court held that continuing the case against the officials would amount to an abuse of the process of law.
The court concluded that the petitioners had been named primarily because of their positions in the Bokaro Steel Plant administration and not based on any credible evidence.
Accordingly, the criminal proceedings in B.S. City P.S. Case No. 64 of 2025 were quashed insofar as the six petitioners were concerned.
Background of the Dispute
The judgment also referred to the long-running issue of employment demands by families displaced during the establishment of Bokaro Steel Plant in the 1960s.
The court noted that despite previous Supreme Court observations seeking closure to such claims, demonstrations and agitations by displaced groups have continued over the years.