🔥 Background & Origin
Singh Mansion originated as the political and social power hub of the Singh family — a dominant force in Dhanbad’s coal mining and political scene. The family rose to prominence through coal union leadership, political posts, and stronghold over the Jharia region.
Suryadeo Singh, born in 1939 and a towering figure in Jharia’s political landscape, passed away in 1991. His wife, Kunti Singh, is a former MLA from Jharia. Together, they had several children who later became prominent or controversial figures in local politics.
Their son Sanjeev Singh, born in 1986, served as a BJP MLA from Jharia between 2014 and 2019. He also led the influential Janta Mazdoor Sangh union. However, his career took a downturn when he was imprisoned on charges related to a high-profile murder case. He is married to Ragini Singh, born in 1981, who currently serves as the BJP MLA from Jharia, having won the seat in 2024.
Another son, Rajeev Ranjan Singh, went missing in 2003 under mysterious circumstances and has not been located since. Siddhartha Gautam, another sibling, is currently contesting as an independent candidate for the Dhanbad Lok Sabha seat.
The family also includes the late Rajan Singh, who headed the Raghukul faction. Rajan’s son, Neeraj Singh, served as the Deputy Mayor of Dhanbad and was a rising political figure in the Congress party until his assassination in 2017. His wife, Purnima Niraj Singh, born in 1985, later became the Congress MLA for Jharia from 2019 to 2024 and remains politically active.
⚔️ The 1996 Murder That Sparked a Family Rift
- May 27, 1996: Murder of Sanjay Singh (a key family member linked to the larger Singh family factions).
- Initial suspects included Ravi Shankar Singh and Suresh Singh, but CID investigations later cleared them.
- New suspects identified: Ramdhir Singh, Rajeev Ranjan Singh, Pawan Singh, Kashinath Singh, and Ashok/Kamlesh Singh.
- Ramdhir and Rajeev Ranjan were arrested; this led to a deep split in the family between two camps:
- Suryadev + Ramdhir faction
- Rajan + Bachcha faction
🏪 Family Division & Political Fallout
The aftermath of the murder and the revelations of the CID investigation fractured the unity of the Singh family. The trust that once existed between the family members dissipated, and internal discord turned into public political rivalry. The once-unified political force became divided into camps aligned with different political parties, leading to repeated violent clashes and a long-standing feud that influenced local governance and labor relations.
🗕️ Timeline of Key Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1970s | Suryadev Singh rises as coal union leader and builds Singh Mansion as political center. |
| 1991 | Death of Suryadev Singh; power passed to sons and relatives. |
| 1996 | Murder of Sanjay Singh, sparking the family feud. |
| Late 1990s | CID investigation begins; suspects identified and arrested. |
| 2017 | Neeraj Singh (Raghukul faction) is assassinated, escalating tensions. |
| 2019 | Ragini Singh (BJP) and Purnima Singh (Congress) contest elections, showing political split. |
| 2020s | Singh Mansion remains a symbol of divided political legacy and ongoing rivalry. |
📌 Key Takeaways
- The murder in 1996 was a turning point that shattered the family’s earlier unity.
- CID investigations revealed factional involvement, escalating the rivalry.
- The family feud expanded into political battles between BJP-aligned and Congress-aligned factions.
- Singh Mansion today reflects a legacy of power struggles, political dynasties, and unresolved conflicts.