The court noted that the petitioners are senior officials of Bokaro Steel Plant and the stir was carried out in front of the plant’s administrative building, which was a restricted area. (AI-generated image)The Jharkhand High Court recently quashed criminal proceedings against senior Bokaro Steel Plant officials accused in a protester’s death during a 2025 demonstration, noting that CCTV footage, drone footage and investigation records indicated that the agitators had turned aggressive, resorted to vandalism and attacked security personnel.Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay observed that the dispute traces its roots to land acquisition carried out decades ago for the establishment of the Bokaro Steel Plant, with demands for employment by displaced families continuing to trigger protests and demonstrations over the years.“There is nothing on record to suggest that it was at the instance of the petitioners such an untoward incident had taken place. In fact, from the case diary as well as the CCTV and drone footage it appears that it was the agitators who had become aggressive and resorted to vandalism. The petitioners cannot be prosecuted simply on account of them being the officials of BSL (Bokaro Steel Limited), and absence of any material would categorise the allegations against the petitioners as vexatious,” the June 2 order read. Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay found that the protest led to the institution of three FIRs.The high court was hearing petitions filed by Birendra Kumar Tiwari and Rajshree Banerjee, along with other senior officials, seeking quashing of the First Information Report (FIR) registered against them.Also Read | Why a Balasore land loser failed in 30-year-old recruitment fight against Indian Oil despite being ‘eligible’‘Agitations routine affair’The high court pointed out that the displaced families had sought employment for ages, for which agitations and demonstrations had become a routine affair.It was added that even after all these decades, demonstrations and agitations are being resorted to, and the stir on April 3, 2025, became resistant to control, leading to a lathi charge upon the agitators, causing a fatality and injuring several others.The court also found that this incident led to the institution of three FIRs, including the subject matter of the instant applications.The court also noted that the petitioners are high-ranking officials of Bokaro Steel Plant and that the demonstration was carried out in front of the main gate of the administrative building of the plant, which was a restricted area.It was highlighted that the investigation into the present case has not been completed, but the same would not deter the court from preventing a miscarriage of justice when the allegations themselves are nondescript and devoid of any substance.Protest turned violent on April 3, 2025The prosecution’s case stated that a peaceful dharna was being staged on April 3, 2025, by the members of “Visthapit Apprentice Sangh” in front of the administrative building of the Steel Authority of India Limited of Bokaro Steel Plant.It was alleged that an indefinite dharna and demonstration was going on when, all of a sudden, at about 5 pm, based on the order given by Birendra Kumar Tiwari, the then director-in-charge, Rajshree Banerjee, the executive director along with others, about 100 CISF personnel had made a lathi charge on the demonstration, leading to one Prem Prasad sustaining injuries which ultimately turned fatal.It was alleged that the members of the “Visthapit Apprentice Sangh” were brutally assaulted and the accused persons wanted to create a riotous situation.It was claimed that an advance notice of the dharna and demonstration was given to the district administration as well as to the administration of Bokaro Steel Plant, but the accused persons in connivance with the CISF personnel had carried out a dastardly attack on the members of the Sangh to prevent them from raising any demands in future.CISF functions independentlyAppearing for the petitioners, advocate Indrajit Sinha argued that Bokaro Steel Limited is a unit of Steel Authority of India Limited and its premises are of national importance, and the security aspect of the premises is looked after by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is deployed there.Also Read | Court hands out lenient 3-year jail term to 85-year-old Bihar man in 35-year-old attempt to murder caseIt was added that the CISF is an independent paramilitary force under the control of the Ministry of Home, Government of India, and the officials of Bokaro Steel Limited have no command over them.It was further added that the officials concerned communicated his order by a letter dated April 2, 2025, to the office-bearers of the Visthapit Apprentice Sangh not to carry out any dharna and demonstration in view of the upcoming Ram Navami festival and taking into consideration the law-and-order situation.Story continues below this adAction snuffed out life of agitatorRepresenting the state, advocate Deepankar argued that the CISF deployed was in direct control of the public sector undertaking and its management, and consequently the constable of CISF who had assaulted the victim, Prem Mahto, was under the direct control and supervision of the petitioners.It was contended that if the management was intending to disperse the peaceful demonstrators, it could have resorted to shelling of tear gas or water spray instead of opting for a violent method.It was added that this action snuffed out the life of an agitator who had been demanding a job allegedly after being displaced at the time of setting up the steel plant.It was further mentioned that the CISF personnel, on the orders of the petitioners, had transgressed their area of control and had attacked the peaceful protesters with lathis, which resulted in the death of one person and injuries suffered by several others.Richa Sahay is a Legal Correspondent for The Indian Express, where she focuses on simplifying the complexities of the Indian judicial system. A law postgraduate, she leverages her advanced legal education to bridge the gap between technical court rulings and public understanding, ensuring that readers stay informed about the rapidly evolving legal landscape. Expertise Advanced Legal Education: As a law postgraduate, Richa possesses the academic depth required to interpret intricate statutes and constitutional nuances. Her background allows her to provide more than just summaries; she offers context-driven analysis of how legal changes impact the average citizen. Specialized Beat: She operates at the intersection of law and public policy, focusing on: Judicial Updates: Providing timely reports on orders from the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts. Legal Simplification: Translating dense "legalese" into accessible, engaging narratives without sacrificing factual accuracy. Legislative Changes: Monitoring new bills, amendments, and regulatory shifts that shape Indian society. ... 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