Jamtara, Jan 05: A Jamtara court on Wednesday reserved orders on Union Coal Minister Sibu Soren's appeal to discharge him from the 1975 Chirrudih massacre, as he said the case lacked merit.
On completion of hearing arguments from both Prosecution and Defence going on since Monday, Additional District Judge UN Mishra said the orders would be pronounced on January 17.
He also directed both Soren's counsel BK Sinha and Public Prosecutor AK Mahto to submit the detailed arguments in writing on January 10.
Forcefully pleading the case, Soren's lawyer argued the case against the minister did not carry any merit and that his client was being framed in the decades-old massacre.
The Public Prosecutor said there was sufficient ground to frame charges against the accused as his name had been mentioned in the dying declaration given by one Lakhendra Soren.
Soren, who got back his Coal Ministry, had to resign from the Manmohan Singh Cabinet in July after he faced non-bailable arrest warrant in connection with the case.
Bureau Report
