Hemant Soren, the Jharkhand Chief Minister who is making headlines not for very good reasons is likely to be arrested soon. A team of the Enforcement Directorate, under heavy security arrived at the Cheif Minister’s residence in Ranchi on Wednesday to interrogate him in a money laundering case.
#WATCH | Ranchi | A team of ED officials arrive at the residence of CM Hemant Soren for questioning in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. pic.twitter.com/zoZinY1w6Y
— ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2024
It has been nearly six hours since the ED team began its investigation into Hemant Soren of misusing power of the office of CM to give government land to private individual. Reports suggest that Highest ranking beurocrats, including cheif Secretary and DG have arrived at the alleged chief minister’s residence.
Earlier on January 29, a team of Enforcement Directorate visited Soren’s Delhi residence with the intent of interrogating him, but later it was claimed that amid ED heat in Delhi, Soren took 1300 km road trip to Ranchi.
Speculation are rife that ahead of Soren’s arrest, his wife Kalpana Soren may take over as the new chief minister of the state. A meeting was also held by the members of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha legislators at Hemant Soren’s residence on January 30, in an apparent presence of his wife Kalpana, giving fuel to already rising doubts and rumours.
Updates regarding the Hemant Soren case
1. Section 144 has been imposed outside CM Soren’s House, and security has been tightened near the Raj Bhavan.
2. Sources indicate a potential link between the Land and Mining Scam, as many individuals named in both cases are the same. ED sources suggest a further probe to uncover the connection between the two scams.
3. A cash diary reveals various questionable transactions, including the undervalued sale of private property and the allocation of land parcels to private individuals with bureaucratic involvement. The ED has submitted the cash diary to the ED court.
4. In case of Soren’s arrest, his wife Kalpana Soren is expected to take over as CM. Top officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi, Chief Secretary, and DGP, have been summoned to the CM residence. If arrested, two mini-buses carrying JMM MLAs will show support for the party at the Raj Bhavan.
5. Top police officials, including IG Akhilesh Jha and DIG Anup Birthare, have arrived at CM Soren’s residence.
6. Two buses have arrived at CM Soren’s residence from the back gate, suggesting preparations to shift the MLAs.
7. BJP’s Babulal Marandi criticizes Soren for filing an FIR in the SC/ST Police Station against ED officials, calling it a misuse and mockery of the SC/ST Act.
8. Hemant Soren files a police complaint against Enforcement Directorate officials at the SC/ST police station in Ranchi over searches at his Delhi house.
9. JMM asserts that Hemant Soren is cooperating with the ED investigation. Health Minister Banna Gupta emphasizes the responsibility of constitutional institutions in conducting appropriate probes. State Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh mentions strong legislative support for the chief minister.
10. Jharkhand DGP arrives at Soren’s house to review security amid the ED probe.
11. The ED team begins questioning Hemant Soren in the alleged land scam case.
12. Jharkhand Government forms a three-member team to ensure law and order during the ED questioning of CM Hemant Soren.
13. CM Hemant Soren meets his father Shibu Soren ahead of the ED probe.
14. JMM MP Mahua Manjhi reaches Hemant Soren’s residence to boost morale ahead of ED questioning, expressing the party’s preparedness for any situation.
15. BSP leader Malook Nagar encourages cooperation with ED investigations and highlights the opposition’s role in addressing government shortcomings in Parliament.
16. Section 144 is imposed near Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s residence ahead of ED questioning.
17. Security arrangements outside the ED’s Ranchi office have been beefed up as they prepare to question Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in the money laundering case.
18. JMM leader Manoj Pandey states that Hemant Soren will cooperate with the ED, emphasizing the chief minister’s previous cooperation and addressing perceived prejudice from central agencies.
19. JMM calls for a meeting of all party MLAs and leaders in Ranchi.
20. JMM announces its intention to file a case against BJP Jharkhand Chief Babulal Marandi for allegedly defaming CM Hemant Soren.
21. Congress criticizes the ED and CBI, claiming they act according to the BJP’s wishes. Ajoy Kumar urges BJP President JP Nadda to have central agency offices at BJP offices in every state and at the BJP headquarters.
22. BJP alleges that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal helped Hemant Soren escape from Delhi to Ranchi, collaborating with Jharkhand minister Mithlesh Thakur in the process.
23. Reports suggest that Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren will appear before the ED on January 31, with JMM MP Mahua Maji stating that Soren is ready to face the probe agency without fear.
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