Mon Sep 23 17:12:19 UTC 2024: ## Jharkhand High Court Hands Assembly Appointment Scam Case to CBI
**Patna, September 23, 2024:** The Jharkhand High Court today delivered a significant blow to the Hemant Soren government by handing over the investigation of the Jharkhand Assembly illegal appointment scam to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The decision comes after the court heard a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Shiv Shankar Sharma, alleging illegal appointments made during the tenure of former Assembly Speakers Inder Singh Namdhari and Alamgir Alam.
The petition highlighted irregularities in appointments made between 2005 and 2007, with a disproportionate number of appointees from a single district during Mr. Namdhari’s tenure. Furthermore, allegations of money transactions for appointments during Mr. Alam’s tenure came to light.
The initial investigation, led by retired judges Justice Loknath Prasad and Justice Vikramaditya Prasad, revealed significant discrepancies. Justice Vikramaditya Prasad’s report, submitted to then Governor Droupadi Murmu in 2018, was forwarded to the Assembly Speaker for action. However, no action was taken, and a second review panel headed by Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya was constituted.
Mr. Sharma’s 2021 PIL sought an independent investigation, leading to the court’s decision to entrust the case to the CBI. The Advocate General, Rajiv Ranjan, argued against the investigation, citing the report’s alleged illegality due to its direct submission to the Governor.
The court’s decision marks a significant development in the long-running scam case and is likely to intensify scrutiny of the Soren government’s actions.
First Piper 