Ranchi, 15 January (H.S.):

The Ranchi Police have begun a serious probe into an alleged assault incident at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office. A police team reached the ED office on Thursday morning to investigate the matter, which is linked to a complaint filed at the Airport Police Station involving ED officials.

Following the registration of an FIR alleging assault, the police intensified their investigation. On Thursday, a team from the Airport Police Station visited the ED office and initiated a detailed inquiry. More than a dozen police officers and personnel were present at the ED premises during the investigation.

Senior officials, including the Sadar DSP, several inspectors, and the officer-in-charge of the Airport Police Station, were present inside the ED office. According to sources, CCTV footage from the premises is being closely examined. A special team led by the Sadar DSP, along with the station in-charge and an inspector, seized CCTV recordings and questioned concerned officials. Police are also scrutinising documents, video evidence, and other material related to the case.

The case stems from a complaint lodged by Santosh Kumar, a resident of Upper Chutia in Ranchi, who accused two ED officials of assaulting him inside the ED office on January 12. Based on the complaint, a case (No. 05/2026) has been registered under Sections 115(2), 117(2), 127(2), 109(2), 351(2), 352, 238, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to the complaint, Santosh Kumar (47), son of late Mithilesh Prasad and a resident of Jaggi Compound near Sai Mandir Colony, Upper Chutia, was summoned to the ED office at 10 am on January 12 and reached there around 9:45 am. At about 1:35 pm, he was called into a chamber where another ED official was already present.

During questioning, he was allegedly pressured to confess to certain allegations. When he refused, the two officials allegedly assaulted him, verbally abused him, and beat him with a stick. The complaint further alleges that the officials threatened him, stating that even his death would not matter to them.

Santosh Kumar reportedly sustained serious injuries in the incident. Around 2 pm, the officials allegedly took him to the emergency ward of Sadar Hospital, where doctors were allegedly threatened not to mention his injuries and warned of consequences for their families. It is further alleged that he was kept in the hospital until 4 pm without informing his family, after which he was taken back to the ED office. There, his bloodstained T-shirt was allegedly replaced in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Police officials said the investigation is ongoing and further action will be taken based on the findings of the probe.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar