Ranchi:
Acting on a complaint, Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer P K Jajoria today directed the state police chief to initiate legal process against JMM candidate from Giridih Lok Sabha seat Jagannath Mahto, an accused in the lynching of a youth at a "people's court".
Mr Jajoria said the direction to Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar was issued after the Election Commission received complaint against Mr Mahto who is facing murder charges, along with his brother and seven others.
According to an FIR, nine persons are accused of convening a "people's court" where 22-year-old Santosh Pandey was brutally beaten on March 20 at Narah village in Bokaro district over an alleged love affair. Later he succumbed to his injuries in a hospital the same day.
Seven persons, including Mr Mahto's brother Baijnath, were arrested in connection with the case and sent to judicial custody. Mr Mahto and another accused, Kewal Puri, were yet to be arrested.
Mr Mahto, a sitting JMM MLA, filed his nomination papers from the Giridih Lok Sabha seat on March 21.