Jharkhand

Ranchi: Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak of the Bombay High Court has been appointed as the Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court. The Supreme Court Collegium recommended his name to the Central Government, which has now approved the appointment. Justice Sonak will succeed Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, who is set to retire on 8 January 2026. Who is Justice M.S. Sonak? Born on 28 November 1964, Justice Sonak hails from Panaji, Goa. He completed his early education at Don Bosco High School, Panaji, followed by a B.Sc. degree from Dhempe College of Arts and Science. He then pursued law at Law College, Panaji, graduating with first-class honors. Justice Sonak also earned a diploma in Portuguese from the Xavier Centre of Historical Research. Legal Career and Expertise Justic...

Ranchi/New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Chandar Bhushan Singh and his wife Priyanka Singh, directors of Maxizon Touch Private Limited, in connection with a massive ₹307 crore multi-level marketing (MLM) scam. The couple allegedly duped the public by promising high monthly returns and lucrative referral incentives, collecting funds illegally through at least 21 bank accounts. How the Fraud Operated Investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, revealed that the accused ran a fraudulent MLM scheme targeting ordinary citizens. They lured investors with the promise of high returns, amassing over ₹307 crore in unauthorized deposits. The money was then converted into illegal gains through complex transactions and shell accounts. On the...

Delhi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, along with his wife Kalpana Soren, arrived in Delhi on Monday to attend a grand reception hosted for the son of Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar. The reception is expected to see the presence of numerous senior political leaders and VVIPs from across the country. The reception celebrates the marriage of Apoorv Gangwar and Sanjana, which took place on 10 December in Bareilly. Following the wedding, a lavish reception was organized in Delhi on 16 December, where the Chief Minister and his wife were invited as special guests. Sources indicate that CM Soren is likely to return to Ranchi on 17 December, during which he may hold formal and political meetings. The Bareilly wedding itself had attracted several prominent political figures, in...

Godda, Jharkhand: A shocking discovery has rattled Godda district as the body of 40-year-old Vijay Kumar Singh from Munger, Bihar was found in a locked room of a marriage hall. Authorities recovered empty alcohol bottles and poison containers from the scene, indicating a possible suicide. Details of the Incident The deceased was found inside a closed room at Singh Marriage Hall in Govindpur, Godda. Local police reported that Singh’s body was discovered under circumstances suggesting intentional self-harm, although no suicide note has been recovered so far. Evidence Found at the Scene Police officials, led by Meharma Police Station In-Charge Saurabh Kumar Thakur, confirmed that several empty bottles of alcohol and poison were found at the scene. Preliminary investigation indicat...

Ranchi, Jharkhand: In a landmark decision, the Jharkhand government has officially recognized Aalim and Fazil degrees—equivalent to high school and intermediate levels—for eligibility in government jobs. This move comes as a major relief for thousands of students who were waiting for recognition of their qualifications, including candidates selected for the Assistant Acharya Recruitment 2023, whose appointments had been stalled due to legal hurdles. Background and Significance Aalim and Fazil degrees are awarded to students completing Islamic education along with studies in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, English, and Hindi. Several states, including Jharkhand, consider these degrees equivalent to high school and intermediate education. The issue recently gained attention when selected can...

Organised crime in Jharkhand has taken a dangerous new turn, with state agencies uncovering links between local gangs and Pakistan-based terror modules. Evidence gathered by the Jharkhand ATS shows that weapons were being smuggled in from abroad and large sums of money were being routed to Pakistan through hawala networks. Acting on the alarming revelations, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has directed the ATS to accelerate action, particularly on extradition of fugitives abroad and confiscation of gangsters’ assets. Pakistani Network Under Scanner According to ATS and police investigations, notorious gangsters such as Aman Sahu, Prince Khan and Sujit Sinha are no longer confined to extortion, armed intimidation or local-level rackets. Their operations have reportedly expanded beyond Ind...

Tourists visiting Jharkhand are set for a better travel experience as the state assembly on Wednesday passed the Jharkhand Tourism Development and Registration (Amendment) Bill 2025. The bill aims to significantly upgrade facilities at major tourist destinations that fall outside the jurisdiction of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). State Tourism Minister Sudivya Kumar tabled the amendment bill during the second half of the assembly session, and it was passed through voice vote. The proposal includes the creation of a Jharkhand Tourism Area Authority (JTAA) to oversee and improve amenities at key sites. Dedicated Authority for Tourism Sites Defending the bill, Minister Kumar said the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the respective district would serve as the chairperson of the new authority. ...

Ranchi, Jharkhand: Opposition leader Babulal Marandi on the fourth day of the Jharkhand Assembly winter session raised serious concerns regarding the Jharkhand Bhawan guest house in Delhi and the state’s police system. Marandi criticized a decision by the Cabinet Secretariat, which allows only legislators’ close relatives to stay at Jharkhand Bhawan. He demanded that this policy be immediately revoked. Guest House Register Controversy Marandi alleged that officials Dr. Rameshwar Uraon, Alok Dubey, and Lal Kishore Nath Shahdev were wrongly classified as relatives to gain permission to stay at the guest house. He urged the Assembly Speaker to produce guest house registers for the past five years to verify who actually stayed there. Marandi also questioned the Energy Department’s ...