The Jharkhand High Court on Friday ordered the State government to form a high-powered committee to investigate the allegations of extortion of money by various extremist organisations from coal transporters across the State.

While passing the order in a PIL (6320/2015) Sagar Sao v/s Home department, the division bench comprising Chief Justice Anirudhha Bose and Justice BB Mangalmurti also disposed of the case. Saw had alleged that extremist organsiations including Tritiya Prastuti Committee and Maoists were extorting money from transporters of Central Coalfields Limited’s Amrapali project in Chatra district. He had asked for an inquiry by CBI or an independent agency on the issue at various coal-raising areas of the state.

Saw alleged the money is being shared by different extremists groups while opining the LWE organisations were getting vital resources for their expansion including purchase of arms.

He further alleged that police were also getting part of the money adding, that is why the State police were not acting against the miscreants.

Former Chief Secretary of State and counsel for petitioner Dr AK Singh informed that during the hearing he was relying on a report from Chatra SP, in which he had stated these allegations were not unfounded. He added, “The court ordered for a high-powered committee to inquire into three main aspects including the alleged extortion of money from coal transporters by extremists, sharing of money with local police and number cases of cases registered in this regard and also their status so far. In short the committee is supposed to act as a watch dog.”

During the course of hearing the counsel for the home department said that police have lodged 11 FIRs against different extremists groups on the issue.

Dr Singh said nature and members of the committee would be decided by State government. He added even though the court did not order CBI inquiry the petitioner was satisfied with the decision.