By IANS
Ranchi : Former central minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Shibu Soren’s acquittal Wednesday in a murder case brought cheer not only to party workers but also to leaders of Jharkhand’s ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
JMM workers gathered near the Albert Ekka chawk in this capital, shouted slogans in favour of their leader and distributed sweets among the commuters. Jubilants workers played with colour and danced to drumbeats amid lighting of firecrackers.
“Shibu Soren Zindabad! Justice has been done to Guruji!” were slogans shouted by the JMM workers.
The Delhi High Court acquitted former central coal minister Soren of the charge of murdering his private secretary Shashinath Jha. A division bench stayed the judgements of the trial court of Nov 28 and Dec 5, 2006, saying the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had failed to prove the charges against Soren and the other accused.
“The high court has delivered justice to Guruji, though CBI had hatched a conspiracy to implicate our leader in the fake case,” said Naveen Chanchal, a JMM leader here.
Shymal Guria, another JMM leader, said: “Shibu Soren cannot hurt a bird. How can he conspire to kill a person?”
Deputy Chief Minister and JMM leader Sudhir Mahto said: “We are happy with the judgement. CBI was falsely trying to implicate Shibu Soren. The judgement has proved that truth always prevails. Guruji’s supporters had conducted a havan and prayed to god for his acquittal.”
Welcoming the judgement, state Congress president Pradeep Balmuchu said: “The acquittal of Shibu Soren will strengthen UPA in the state. The post of chairperson of the UPA coordination committee was kept vacant after Soren was jailed in the Jha murder case. His acquittal will help in running the state government in better way.”