UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Jharkhand HC stays action against ED officials by State police, orders Central security cover

Q1. In the January 2026 Jharkhand High Court case concerning the Ranchi police raid on the ED's Zonal Office, how many Enforcement Directorate officers filed the criminal writ petition under Article 226 seeking quashing of the FIR/transfer of the probe?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four

Q2. In the Jharkhand HC's interim order staying action against ED officials, the court restrained the State police from any 'coercive action'. In the context of criminal procedure, the term 'coercive action' most precisely refers to:

  • A. Any oral or written communication issued by the police to an individual
  • B. Compulsive measures such as arrest, custodial interrogation, search or seizure carried out under the authority of law
  • C. Filing of a chargesheet before a competent magistrate after completion of investigation
  • D. Issuance of a Look-Out Circular by the Bureau of Immigration

Q3. With reference to the Jharkhand HC's intervention in the ED–Ranchi Police dispute (2026), consider the following statements: 1. The FIR against the ED officials was registered at the Airport Police Station, Ranchi. 2. The High Court ordered Central paramilitary (CISF/BSF) security cover for the ED's Ranchi Zonal Office. 3. Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi described the State police raid on the ED office as 'pre-planned'. 4. The FIR was lodged by a serving Jharkhand cabinet minister against the ED. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The FIR against the ED officials was registered at the Airport Police Station, Ranchi.
  2. The High Court ordered Central paramilitary (CISF/BSF) security cover for the ED's Ranchi Zonal Office.
  3. Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi described the State police raid on the ED office as 'pre-planned'.
  4. The FIR was lodged by a serving Jharkhand cabinet minister against the ED.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q4. The Enforcement Directorate, whose Ranchi Zonal Office figured in the recent Jharkhand HC case, derives its principal powers of search, seizure, arrest and attachment of proceeds of crime primarily from which one of the following statutes?

  • A. Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999
  • B. Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002
  • C. Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018
  • D. Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
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