In a surprising turn of events, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was arrested a day after resigning from his position. The arrest was followed by the announcement of his loyalist and state transport minister, Champai Soren, as his successor. Sources within the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) revealed that 43 MLAs are supporting Champai Soren, and there are plans to fly Jharkhand coalition MLAs to Hyderabad.
Hemant Soren’s arrest came after he lodged an FIR against Enforcement Directorate (ED) personnel, accusing them of conducting searches at his Delhi residence to harass and malign him and his community. The ED is investigating Soren in connection with a money laundering case.
Champai Soren claimed the support of 47 legislators to form a new government, and the JMM sources indicated that 43 MLAs are currently supporting him. There were plans to move coalition MLAs to Hyderabad if the Governor did not provide time for alliance developments.
Hemant Soren was produced before a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi, where the ED sought maximum custody based on alleged non-cooperation during questioning and evasive answers. The probe agency also cited documents and material evidence related to a land scam case as grounds for seeking Soren’s remand.
Before his arrest, Hemant Soren tendered his resignation to the Governor and, in a letter to Opposition MLAs, indicated Champai Soren as his chosen successor in case of his arrest.
VIDEO | "The ED has come to arrest me today. After questioning me for the entire day, they have decided to arrest me in a planned manner, on an issue which is not linked to me. They (ED) found no evidence, they even tried to tarnish my image by conducting raids in Delhi," said… pic.twitter.com/cnOfDkJiVp
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 1, 2024
In response to the arrest, Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the government, calling it a blow to federalism. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed concern that agencies like the ED, CBI, and Income Tax Department were becoming tools to eliminate opposition.
The BJP labeled Hemant Soren as “one more feather of corruption” in the opposition’s cap. Hemant Soren has approached the Supreme Court challenging his arrest, and a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud is set to hear his plea.
Protests erupted in Jharkhand against Soren’s arrest, with several tribal outfits calling for a statewide bandh. Emergency services are expected to remain unaffected during the shutdown. The situation remains fluid as political developments unfold in the state.
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