Thaindian News

Ranchi, April 17 (IANS) A fast track court Saturday deferred the judgement in a 36-year-old double murder case involving Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren and will hear fresh arguments May 15.
Soren appeared in court Saturday and the judge asked the two sides whether they wanted to make fresh argument in the case. Both sides agreed and the court posted the matter for hearing May 15.

The case is related to murder of two people over a dispute over killing of two goats. The murders took place at Kodko village of Giridih district in April 1974.

Soren was made accused of inciting a mob to kill Chundi Singh and Khirodhar Singh, who were accused of stealing two goats and killing them. There were a total 10 accused in the case. The charge sheet against all accused, including Soren, was filed in 1978. Eight accused were acquitted in 1986 and one died during trial.

The case against Soren was pending as he failed to appear in court earlier. A warrant pending against Soren surfaced in 2004 and he then surrendered. He was later released on bail.

The murder case was transferred to the fast track court of Mohammad Qasim in Giridih just three days before the judgment date. On April 3, Soren had appeared in the court of Additional District Judge N.N. Singh. The hearing was completed and the judgment was reserved and was scheduled to be delivered Saturday.

But just days before the judgment day, Singh separated himself from the case and Giridih District Judge Sanjay Kumar transferred the case to the fast track court of Mohammad Qasim.