A car chase in Jharkhand, a panicky CM office, a detention, and an angry Chief Election Commissioner

On Tuesday, CEC Rajiv Kumar pulled up the Jharkhand Chief Secretary and DGP over the incident, during an inter-state virtual meeting related to the elections. A high-level source present at the meeting said: “The CEC asked how Mandal Murmu and the others were detained. He also pointed to the lacunae (in observing the Model Code of Conduct) as when the Giridih police stopped the vehicle, it did not video record the same or follow other procedures. Also, if a vehicle is stopped (during a poll check) and no illegal cash or liquor is found, the vehicle has to be released. But Murmu was detained temporarily and two other BJYM (Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha) leaders and the driver were taken to the Dumri Police Station.”

CEO K Ravi Kumar told The Indian Express: “The process was not followed when Mandal Murmu was detained. Hence, we intervened.”

Compounding the JMM’s embarrassment, Murmu has denied its version of events. Admitting he met BJP leaders, he denied he was “abducted” or “was being forcefully taken somewhere”. “Just because I am a proposer for CM Soren, it does not mean I cannot travel or meet anyone,” he told The Indian Express.

What adds another layer to this drama is Murmu’s own credentials, as a descendant of Sidho-Kanhu, a hero of the 1855 Santhal Mutiny against the East India Company – hence making him a valuable asset for both sides.

The JMM nervousness had another reason. Till Sunday afternoon when the chase happened, the BJP had not announced a candidate for the Barhait seat from where Soren is contesting. The party did so only on Monday, naming Gamliyel Hembrom as its Barhait candidate.

It all began with the police tailing a vehicle in which Murmu was travelling on Sunday, forcing it to stop at Dumri, Giridih, and “detaining” the passengers. At a press conference, JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said: “During checking, police found that Mandal Murmu was being taken by some unknown persons somewhere. When the police asked them about their destination, there was no answer.”

According to Bhattacharya, the person driving the vehicle then made calls to Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar, ADG, Operations, Sanjay Lathkar and IG, Operations, A V Homkar. “They threatened the Giridih district administration and police to let the vehicle go. What is the story behind this, we don’t know.”

Godda MP Nishikant Dubey later posted a photo of Murmu with him on social media. Claiming it was shot earlier that day, Dubey said that the family of the hero of the 1855 Mutiny was coming to Ranchi to talk to BJP leaders “to fight Bangladeshi infiltrators”, but had been “arrested” by the police. The alleged infiltration by Bangladeshis into Jharkhand has been made a main poll campaign issue by the BJP.

Murmu backed what Dubey said. “My forefathers were freedom fighters and I keep meeting politicians from across the spectrum. I met Nishikant Dubey on October 27 morning to discuss jobs and social issues, among other things. I was on my way to Ranchi for some personal work and to meet some central BJP ministers to apprise them of various issues, including infiltration,” he told The Indian Express.

Sticking to its guns, the JMM alleged a bid to “influence” Soren’s election. Bhattacharya said they had written to the Election Commission complaining that poll officials were in “cahoots” with the BJP. “This is a very dangerous situation and more such conspiracies will be hatched,” Bhattacharya said.

BJP legal cell state coordinator Sudhir Shrivastava has submitted a memorandum to the CEO’s office against Bhattacharya’s press conference. “Mandal Murmu has submitted an application stating he was not kidnapped. Bhattacharya should clarify which official stopped Murmu, who was with him, whether any criminal case was registered against Murmu, and on whose directions he was stopped… Bhattacharya’s statements seem intended to intimidate officials involved in the election process,” said a BJP press release.

Sources in the JMM admitted they might have jumped the gun following rumours regarding Murmu’s “plans”. The Chief Minister’s Office feared that apart from the embarrassment a shift to the BJP by Murmu would cause, it could put Soren’s candidature under a cloud. A top-level source said: “Some officers and leaders said that if a proposer joins a rival party or runs for election, this could happen. However, then others in the party assured that one’s candidature comes under question only if a proposer contests his or her signature on the nomination papers. It was not the case here, with everything on video.”