Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, also the leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), has resigned from his position after over seven hours of questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the ownership of a piece of land. Following his resignation, Soren was arrested on Wednesday night. The ruling alliance suggested that state Transport Minister Champai Soren, a loyalist of Hemant Soren, could step into the role of Chief Minister.
The development follows days of tension between Soren and the ED, starting with searches at his Delhi residence. The ED has been issuing summons to Soren in connection with an alleged money laundering case, but he has consistently refused to appear before the agency. The recent summons, issued on January 20 and 31, pertained to alleged proceeds of crime related to the illegal sale and purchase of land in Ranchi.
Earlier on the same day, the Jharkhand Police filed an FIR against senior ED officials under the SC/ST Act based on a complaint by Soren regarding the searches at his residence. In his complaint, Soren accused the ED of conducting the search operation to harass and malign him and his community, and he refuted the claims of owning a BMW car and possessing illicit cash.
The political landscape in Jharkhand is likely to change, with Champai Soren potentially becoming the new Chief Minister. The developments in this case highlight the ongoing tensions between political leaders and investigative agencies, raising questions about the intersection of politics and law enforcement.
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[…] ED has accused Soren of being the key beneficiary in alleged land-related irregularities in Ranchi, involving fake deeds and forgery. Soren’s plea sought protection from arrest, claiming that […]