Ranchi, Jan 4 (Inditop.com) Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren was Monday directed to appear before a court in Giridih district Feb 3 in a murder case.

Additional District and Sessions Judge N.N. Singh passed the order after Soren failed to appear in court Monday.

The case relates to the murder of two people over killing of a goat. The case was filed against 12 people, including Soren, on April 15, 1974.

Two decades ago, eight of the accused were acquitted in the case. 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.