Ranjan: Turning point

Dhanbad, Feb. 19: Dark clouds hovered over Singh Mansion, once known as the nerve centre of the region, with notorious coal baron late Suryadeo Singh’s son Rajeev Ranjan, who is a BJP leader wanted in several criminal cases, surrendering before the police and being admitted to Central Hospital late last night.

Doctors attending on Ranjan said he was suffering from cancer.

Ranjan’s name figures in the Ashok Jalan abduction case. He had also allegedly attacked his aunt Pushpa Singh last year. The BJP leader was arrested in the Sakaldeo Singh murder case and is also an accused in the Manindra Nath Mandal murder case. Several extortion cases are also pending against him.

Despite party president Abhaykant Prasad promising to launch a “cleansing operation”, Ranjan, the nephew of urban development minister Bachcha Singh, was not expelled from the BJP. Ranjan had some months ago stormed the capital in a fleet of cars and joined the BJP at the party’s state headquarters in the presence of leaders said to be close to chief minister Babulal Marandi.

Though the witnesses have turned hostile in most of the cases against Ranjan and Pushpa Singh has even agreed to withdraw her complaint, there was no respite for Ranjan. A couple of months ago, the police had raided his residence and attached his property. But Ranjan moved around scot-free.

The BJP leader filed separate applications before the chief judicial magistrate and first class judicial magistrate yesterday, pleading that his poor health did not permit him to appear before the court. Police superintendent Murarilal Meena confirmed that Ranjan had been arrested and was undergoing treatment at Central Hospital. Ranjan is not talking to anyone. His uncle, Ramadhin Singh, said: “One who wears the shoes, knows were it pinches. Babua’s (Ranjan’s) condition is critical. Please do not disturb him.”

According to case number 398/2000 — lodged with the Jharia police station on November 10, 2000 — Ranjan had intercepted leading coal merchant Ramesh Kumar Singh at Katrasmore and threatened him with dire consequences, if he did not pay him Rs 50,000.

Later in his confessions, the complainant informed the court that he did not lodge any such complaint with the police.

According to case number 19/02 — lodged with the Dhanbad police station in January last year — Ranjan had gone to Pushpa Singh’s house and opened fire with the intention to kill her. Her official bodyguard too had retaliated with his service revolver. However, no casualty was reported.