Judgment in murder case against Soren likely tomorrow

A fast track court is likely to deliver judgment tomorrow in a 36-year-old double murder case involving Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

A fast track court is likely to deliver judgment on Saturday in a 36-year-old double murder case involving Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

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Soren appeared in the court of Additional District Judge (ADJ) NN Singh April 3 in connection with the case. The hearing was completed and the judgment was reserved. However, four days before the judgment day, Singh decided to disassociate himself from the case.

Singh told the district judge of Giridih to hand over the case to another judge. Kumar shifted the case to the fast track court of Mohammad Kasim.

According to sources in the chief minister's office, Soren will appear in a Giridih court on Saturday.

The case is about the murder of two people over a dispute over two goats in Kodko village in Giridih district in April 1974.

Soren was accused of inciting a mob to kill Chundi Singh and Khirodhar Singh, who allegedly stole and killed the two goats. There were 10 accused in the case. The chargesheet against all, including Soren, was filed in 1978. Eight men were acquitted in 1986 and one died during trial.

The case against Soren was pending because 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.