Jamshedpur, Aug. 16: Former Union minister Shibu Soren was granted bail today by the court of chief judicial magistrate A.K. Chaturvedi in connection with a case lodged at Bistupur police station on August 9, 1999 for violation of prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC.

Soren was brought to the court from Jamtara, where he is under judicial custody in connection with the Chirudih massacre, amid high security. Hundreds of police personnel, armed with teargas guns, and a riot control vehicle were deployed at the main gate to quell any violence by JMM supporters.

Workers started pouring in two hours before the party chief’s arrival. Over 1,000 partymen were present in the court premises when Soren was produced. Senior party leaders, including MP Sunil Mahto, MLA Dulal Bhuiyan, former MLA Sudhir Mahto, vice-president Champai Soren and Soren’s son Hemant Soren accompanied him to the courtroom bustling with lawyers and police personnel. Soren was charged, with other party leaders, including Bhuiyan and Champai Soren, of violating Section 144 of CrPC in 1999. Bhuiyan has already obtained bail in the case.

Moving the bail petition, defence lawyer Varun Kumar Sinha claimed that the police had secured a non-bailable warrant by furnishing false information before the court. A Supreme Court advocate, Sinha has been specially brought in to argue the case.

Citing a Supreme Court judgment, Sinha objected to the fact that the court had issued a non-bailable warrant for a bailable offence. Moreover, Sinha pointed out that going by a recent Supreme Court judgment, the case should be quashed.

“The court had ruled that in an offence, which entails punishment less than seven years, the chargesheet should be filed within three years or the case should end. Since more than three years have passed, the case should be quashed,” he added.

The court turned down the prosecution’s plea and asked Soren to furnish two securities of Rs 4,000 each against the bail. Two employees of the Tata Steel’s Tube division Munna Prasad Mahto and Muktar Mahto stood bailers for Soren.

Before leaving with senior party leaders for Jamtara, Soren termed the Arjun Munda government “fascist” for suppressing the voice of people.

“Elections for the Assembly are due in few months and I am confident that the electorate of the state will do justice,” he added.