Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s home in Ranchi, the state capital, was visited on Saturday by a representative of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for an interrogation regarding the purported land scam. In a letter, the central agency requested that the CM be reachable for inquiries regarding the subject between January 16 and January 20. On January 20, Soren gave the ED permission to record his statement at home.
On Saturday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence was visited by an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigator who sought to record his statement on a suspected land scam case. After dodging seven prior summonses pertaining to the case since August of last year, Soren eventually consented to give his statement at home. Notably, in November 2022, Soren, then 47, was questioned for nine hours by the ED about a case involving illegal mining.
Seven ED summonses had previously been ignored by the Jharkhand chief minister and management president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). He claimed that the central agencies were used by the government headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to topple his government.
Security was stepped up around Soren’s house to keep the peace ahead of the scheduled visit by ED officials, despite protests from JM employees and a number of tribal leaders. As stated by Chandan Kumar Sinha, senior superintendent of police in Ranchi, more than a thousand security guards were sent out to ensure a three-tiered level of protest.
Friday protects.
Numerous tribal organizations staged protest marches in support of Chief Minister Soren. Kendriya Sarna Samiti, Kharwar Bhoktaa Samaj, Bharat Mundaa Samaj, Bedia Vikass Parishad, Masihi Samaaj, Santhal Samaaj Dishoom, Adivasi Lohraa Samaaj, Yuva Sarna Samiti, Bheem Armyy Adivaasi Sarna Samiti, Tetar Toli Sarna Samiti, and Karmaali Samaj were among the organizations whose banners the protestors were weaving. As they demonstrated in front of Raj Bhawan, demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans such as “joo Humsee Takrayegaa chur chur ho jayegaa,” Kedriya janch Agency kaa Durupayogg krna bnd kro, “Adivaasi Ektaa jindabaad,” and “Jaii Sarna,” among others. The tribal leaders expressed their fury towards the ED and the federal government, claiming that they were part of a plot to discredit Hemant Soren’s administration.
What is this supposed land fraud?
In accordance with Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Soren had received seven summonses in relation to the investigation into possible money laundering associated with a land scam case. The probe agency is looking into two significant cases: a land scam in the state capital and illegal mining. In connection with the land scam case, 13 people—including two businessmen and an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer—have been taken into custody.
