Thaindian News

Ranchi, April 3 (IANS) A Giridih district court reserved its judgment in a double murder case involving Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren. The verdict will be delivered April 17.
Soren appeared in the court of Additional District Judge (ADJ) N.N. Singh. This was Soren’s second appearance in the court after he became chief minister Dec 30 last year. Soren had failed to appear on two previous dates — Jan 4 and March 8.

The court concluded the hearing after listening to Soren’s side Saturday and reserved its judgment.

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

Soren was accused of inciting a mob to kill Chundi Singh and Khirodhar Singh, who were accused of stealing two goats and killing them.

There were 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 him surfaced in 2004 and he then surrendered. He was later released on bail.