Jharkhand BJP President and Leader of Opposition, Babulal Marandi, has sharply criticized the working methods of the Jharkhand Police, raising serious questions about their adherence to regulations. He pointed to a specific case in Ranchi where the review of a critical criminal investigation originating from the Gonda and Namkum police stations was assigned to the DIG (Budget). Marandi questioned the competence of senior police officials in the capital, including the SSP, DIG, and IG, if such investigative tasks must be delegated to a department typically handling financial matters. This, he argued, demonstrates both the force’s inefficiency and a blatant disregard for established procedures.
Marandi further highlighted the perceived hypocrisy within the police department. He noted the government’s eagerness to assign female constables of IRB/JAP battalions to clerical duties in police stations, deviating from their specialized training and pulling over 15% of their strength into unarmed roles. Conversely, when a sensitive case required review, the responsibility fell to the budget division. Marandi asserted that if Ranchi’s senior officials are indeed incapable of handling basic investigative work, they should be removed from their positions. He sarcastically questioned whether other JAP personnel would also be reassigned to accounting roles instead of law enforcement, potentially hindering the state’s ability to provide forces for central government duties and forcing the state to offer apologies for ‘inconvenience’. This situation, he concluded, exemplifies a breakdown of order and rule-following within the police department, suggesting that operations proceed without regard for legal frameworks, much like the alleged continuation of a retired IPS officer holding the DGP post in violation of constitutional and All India Service rules.