2026:JHHC:16892-DB -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P. (PIL) No. 846 of 2019 The Centre 4 R.T.I. (registered trust under Trust Act) through its President, Pankaj Kumar Yadav, aged about 32 year, S/o Raj Kishore Pd. Yadav, Gayatri Nagar, Sudna, PO+PS- Sudna, Daltonganj, District- Palamau, Jharkhand, … … … Petitioner Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand 2. The Chief Secretary, Govt. of Jharkhand, Nepal House, P.O. & P.S.-Dhurwa, District-Ranchi, Jharkhand. 3. The Principal Secretary, Department of Revenue, Project Bhawan, P.O. & P.S.-Dhurwa, District-Ranchi, Jharkhand. 4. The Commissioner Bokaro, P.O. & P.S.-Bokaro, District-Bokaro, Jharkhand. 5. The Superintendent of Police, Bokaro, P.O. & P.S.-Bokaro, District- Bokaro, Jharkhand. 6. The Director General, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Adre House, P.O.- Ranchi Collage, P.S.-Gonda, District-Ranchi, Jharkhand. .… … … Respondents --------- CORAM: HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SHANKAR --------- For the Petitioner: Mr. Rajeev Kumar, Advocate Mrs. Niteshwari Kumari, Advocate For the State: Mr. Piyush Chitresh, A.C. to A.G. --------- 15/Dated: 11.06.2026 1. Heard Mr Rajeev Kumar, learned counsel, who appears with Mrs Niteshwari Kumari, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Mr Piyush Chitresh, learned A.C. to A.G. for the respondents. 2. This petition alleges fraud in relation to a property measuring 103 acres, described as Plot Nos. 426, 450, 472 of Khata No. 59, 42 of Tetulia Mouza under Thana No. 38 in Bokaro District of the State of Jharkhand. The petition alleges that this land is, in fact, forest land notified in 1958, but that, based on forged documents, it was attempted to be passed off as non-forest land. It further alleges that the land in question is valued at 2026:JHHC:16892-DB -2- Rs. 172 crores or thereabouts, and therefore investigations must be ordered and monitored to unearth the fraud and its perpetrators. 3. Several affidavits have been filed in this matter. However, we wish to refer to the supplementary affidavit filed by the petitioner on 28th July, 2025. In para 3 of this affidavit, the petitioner has pleaded that vide order dated 24.07.2023 the Chief Judicial Magistrate at Bokaro, has registered Compliant Case No. 106 of 2024 filed by the Divisional Forest Office, Bokaro alleging commission of offences under Sections 406, 420, 467, 468, 471 read with Section 120 B and Section 24 of the IPC and Sections 30 and 63 of the Forest Act. The affidavit further states that a three- member committee was constituted by the State Government to look into the allegations, and even this Committee has concluded that the land in question was indeed forest land. 4. The affidavit further states that the Enforcement Directorate has registered an ECIR, and the State Government has also initiated investigations through its Crime Investigation Department (C.I.D.). 5. The affidavit then states that, although the Enforcement Directorate and the Crime Investigation Department have initiated investigations, because the persons involved in this fraud are influential, these agencies cannot be trusted. Paragraph 6 of the affidavit makes a bald allegation that there is every possibility that these investigating agencies will help the accused persons. 6. Without going to the other affidavits and the material on record and even by relying upon the petitioner’s own affidavit, we find that the petitioner’s allegations of fraud have not gone unaddressed. The Judicial Agencies have taken note, and the State’s C.I.D. and the Central Government’s ED are investigating the matter. 2026:JHHC:16892-DB -3- 7. The vague contentions that the accused persons are influential or that there is every possibility that the agencies will help them cannot be accepted, at least at this stage. Based on such allegations, it will not be proper for this Court to virtually monitor the investigations or to express any lack of confidence in the Judicial, State, and Central Agencies. 8. The purpose of Public Interest Litigation is to highlight certain serious flaws, and if those that are duty-bound to investigate into or act in relation to such flaws fail to act, then to activate such authorities into action. That purpose has now been substantively achieved, as the Judicial authority has taken note and the State and the Central Agencies are investigating the matter. 9. Accordingly, we direct the State and the Central Agencies investigating the matter to bring the investigation to its logical conclusion in accordance with the law. We are sure that the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Bokaro, who is in seisin of the complaint filed by the Divisional Forest Office, Bokaro, will also deal with the complaint before the court in accordance with the law. 10. With the above directions, we dispose of this petition without any order for costs. Pending Interlocutory Applications, if any, do not survive and are disposed of. (M.S. Sonak, C.J.) (Rajesh Shankar, J.) June 11, 2026 N.A.F.R. APK/VK Uploaded on 12.06.2026