A woman in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district has accused the Patratu police of framing her husband in a false Arms Act case after he allegedly refused to provide free mutton to local officers. The complainant, Reena Devi, filed a written complaint on November 8, 2025, addressed to senior police authorities, including the Superintendent of Police (SP) Ramgarh, Director General of Police (DGP), DIG Hazaribagh, IG Bokaro, and SDPO Patratu.
In her complaint, Reena Devi alleged that her husband, Rajesh Sahu, who operates a mutton shop, was routinely harassed by police personnel who often took meat from his store without paying. When he demanded payment, the officers allegedly became vindictive. She claimed that on October 14, 2025, the charge station summoned Rajesh to the police station, falsely accused him of being part of the so-called ‘Pandey gang’, and registered two fabricated cases under the Arms Act before sending him to jail.
Reena Devi insisted that her husband had no connection to any criminal group and was merely running his business to sustain their family. She appealed to the authorities to conduct a fair investigation and ensure her husband’s release from what she described as a baseless and retaliatory case.
The incident has drawn the attention of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, who publicly condemned the police’s conduct. In a Facebook post, Marandi accused certain officers of misusing legal provisions to settle personal scores. “In Patratu, a mutton shop owner has allegedly been jailed under a fabricated Arms Act case for refusing to provide free meat. While his wife has demanded an inquiry, police claim he was caught planning a crime — a clear contradiction that raises serious doubts about the legitimacy of their actions,” Marandi wrote.
Marandi further alleged that the practice of filing false and politically motivated cases, which he claimed began during Hemant Soren’s administration, appears to have become a continuing trend among some law enforcement officials. He took a direct swipe at Hemant Soren, saying, “Hemant ji, who himself spent six months in jail on corruption charges, should now understand the consequences of framing others unfairly.”
Calling for accountability and transparency, Marandi demanded that the Ramgarh police immediately review CCTV footage and call records from the day of the alleged incident to verify the facts. He also urged the Jharkhand High Court to conduct a comprehensive review of all Arms Act, NDPS, sedition, and SC/ST Act cases registered over the past six years, to identify any potential misuse of law against innocent citizens.
The case has sparked widespread debate across Jharkhand, with many viewing it as a test of the state’s commitment to police accountability and the rule of law. Investigations are expected to determine whether the allegations against the Patratu police hold merit or if the claims were exaggerated for public sympathy.
