THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, June 17: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has levelled serious allegations against the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government, accusing it of compromising the security of the state’s High Court by purchasing faulty security equipment without following due procedure.
At a press conference on Monday, BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo claimed that security devices procured for the Jharkhand High Court failed to meet technical standards, raising concerns about the safety of one of the state’s highest judicial institutions.
‘Security Scam’ After Land and Mining Controversies
Shahdeo described the issue as yet another scam under the current administration, following alleged irregularities in land, tender, and mining matters. “This is not just negligence; this is a security scam,” he said.
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He alleged that the procurement was done without inviting tenders and without any prior technical inspection. Only after the purchase was a review committee constituted, headed by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Special Branch. The committee reportedly submitted its findings on June 18 2024.
Equipment Fails Key Detection Tests
According to Shahdeo, the committee’s report revealed that out of four security devices bought, three failed technical tests. He stated that a deep search mine and metal detector, meant to identify buried detonators and explosives, failed to detect any such threats during testing.
Similarly, an under-vehicle search mirror designed to scan for explosives beneath vehicles reportedly proved ineffective. An Explosive Vapour Detector, intended to detect substances like TNT and other high explosives, was also said to be faulty.
“All three devices were declared useless in the report,” Shahdeo claimed, citing the alleged findings.
‘One Year of Silence from the Government’
Highlighting the timeline, Shahdeo said the equipment was purchased in 2023, yet the findings only came to light in June 2024. “The government has been sitting on this information for a year. No action has been taken against either the supplier or the officials involved,” he added.
He urged the state government to take immediate steps to upgrade security at the High Court and ensure accountability.
Call for Central Assistance
Shahdeo also called on Chief Minister Hemant Soren to seek support from the Union Home Ministry or relevant central security agencies, if necessary, to install modern and reliable security systems at the court premises.
“The security of any constitutional institution must not be taken lightly. Action must be initiated against the agency that supplied substandard equipment,” he said.
BJP’s state co-media in-charge, Yogendra Pratap Singh, was also present at the press conference.
