Soren appears in court in murder case; next hearing March 8
By IANSWednesday, February 3, 2010
RANCHI - Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibhu Soren Wednesday appeared in a Giridih district court in a murder case. The court slated the next date of hearing March 8.
Soren appeared in Additional District Judge court of N.N. Singh. The government lawyer presented his side in the case.
Soren was summoned to appear Jan 4 but he failed to appear in court. A special session of the state assembly had been convened the same day as Soren had to prove majority of his government on the floor of the house. The court then directed Soren to appear Feb 3.
The case is related to the murders 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 accused of inciting a mob to kill Chundi Singh and Khirodhar Singh, who were accused of stealing two goats and killing them. There were in all 10 accused in the case. Eight of them were acquitted in 1983 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.
