Ranchi, May 5: The Jharkhand High Court has adopted a strict approach regarding the case of police brutality against Tarun Mahato, a leader of the Jharkhand Democratic Revolutionary Front, in Ichagarh, Saraikela-Kharsawan district.
A bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar has sought responses from the state’s Principal Health Secretary and the Saraikela Superintendent of Police (SP) after taking suo motu cognizance of a public interest litigation. The court questioned the Principal Health Secretary on the actions taken against the medical officer who issued a ‘fit for custody’ certificate before presenting Tarun Mahato in court.
The court remarked on the basis on which the health officer deemed Mahato fit, despite visible injuries on his body from the severe beating he endured. Additionally, the court has directed the Saraikela SP to submit a detailed report by June 18 on the progress of installing CCTV cameras in police stations across the district.
During the hearing, the state government informed the court that Tarun Mahato has been granted interim compensation of ₹1.5 lakh. Advocate Ritesh Kumar Mahato represented the petitioner in the case. Tarun Mahato had contested the Ichagarh assembly seat as a candidate for the JLKM in the 2024 elections.
It is alleged that on the night of November 19, 2025, the Ichagarh police took him into custody, where he was subjected to ‘third-degree torture.’ Following this incident, Mahato’s wife wrote to the Chief Justice of the High Court seeking justice, which the court accepted as a public interest petition.
In a previous hearing, the court had also ordered the Saraikela SP to appear personally with documents. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for June 18.
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