In a surprising turn of events, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren resigned from his post on Wednesday after being questioned by Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials at his Ranchi residence in connection to a money laundering case related to a land deal. Following the questioning, Soren was arrested by the ED and subsequently went to the Governor House with officials to hand over his resignation.
Next Chief Minister Nomination:
The alliance has selected JMM leader Champai Soren as the likely successor to the chief minister post. Champai Soren, a seven-time MLA representing the Seraikella constituency in Jharkhand, is currently serving as the minister of transport in the state government. He played an active role in the movement for the separate statehood of Jharkhand and is known as the ‘Jharkhand Tiger.’
ED Questions Soren in Money Laundering Case:
Hemant Soren was interrogated by the ED at his official residence for more than seven hours amid heavy security and political drama. Earlier in the day, Soren lodged an FIR against ED personnel over searches conducted at his Delhi residence on Monday, alleging harassment and maligning of him and his community. This comes as part of the ED’s investigation into a large-scale illegal change of land ownership by the mafia in Jharkhand.
Case Background:
The ED has arrested 14 individuals, including a 2011-batch IAS officer, Chhavi Ranjan, who served as the director of the state’s Social Welfare Department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi. Another arrestee is Bhanu Prasad Prasad, an employee of the Jharkhand land revenue department. The investigation revolves around a racket involving the manipulation of official records through forged documents to acquire vast parcels of land, with the proceeds of crime reaching into crores.
As the political landscape in Jharkhand undergoes significant shifts, the state awaits the formal appointment of Champai Soren as the new Chief Minister, bringing an end to a tumultuous period marked by the resignation of Hemant Soren amidst ongoing legal scrutiny.
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