Justice on Hold: Only 15 witnesses examined in ex-BJP MLA’s case in Jharkhand over a decade
SHAKEEL AKHTER Ranchi, Sept 12: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has managed to present just 15 witnesses in ten years against former…
SHAKEEL AKHTER
Ranchi, Sept 12: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has managed to present just 15 witnesses in ten years against former BJP MLA Bhanu Pratap Shahi, accused of corruption and money laundering. With around 30 witnesses listed in total, the sluggish pace suggests it could take another four decades for the case to conclude — raising questions over delays in high-profile political trials.
This is despite repeated Supreme Court directions urging the speedy disposal of criminal cases against politicians.
Shahi first entered politics in 2005 as an All India Forward Bloc legislator, before serving as a cabinet minister under then independent chief minister Madhu Koda. It was during this period that he was accused of corruption.
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He later joined the BJP and won the 2019 assembly election from Bhawanathpur, though he lost the seat in 2024. Shahi remains one of six ministers from the Koda cabinet still facing corruption charges.
From FIR to Prosecution
The corruption allegations date back to 2009, when an FIR was lodged against former Chief Minister Madhu Koda and several ministers, including Shahi. After a public interest litigation (PIL) challenged the slow progress of vigilance investigations, the Jharkhand High Court ordered the CBI and ED to probe the matter in 2010.
The CBI subsequently filed an FIR and chargesheeted Shahi in 2011. In parallel, the ED registered a money-laundering case, eventually filing a prosecution complaint in 2014, accusing Shahi of laundering more than ₹6 crore. Seven people were named in the chargesheet, including Shahi’s relative and then OSD, Uma Shankar Malviya, who has since passed away.
Justice Delayed
Despite the seriousness of the charges, progress has been painfully slow. Out of around 30 witnesses listed by the ED, only half have been examined in court over the last decade. At this rate, completing the prosecution’s side could take another ten years, after which the defence would begin its turn — potentially adding 20 more years to the timeline.
Legal observers warn that such delays not only benefit the accused but also erode public faith in the justice system. If the current pace persists, a verdict in Shahi’s case may not arrive for another 40–45 years.
