ED Quizzes Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren In Land Scam Case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is quizzing Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in Ranchi in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
A team of officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrived at the residence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in Ranchi on Friday, to quiz him as part of their investigation into a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. The Chief Minister, who is also the executive president of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), had previously skipped seven summonses from the ED but consented to attend the questioning after being summoned for the eighth time.
To discuss the situation before the questioning, the JMM convened a meeting of all its legislators at the Chief Minister's House, news agency PTI reported.
As per PTI, Supriyo Bhattacharya, the JMM general secretary and spokesperson, stated, "We have convened a meeting of JMM legislators at CM residence before the questioning to discuss the situation. Any strategy about the future course of action will be made based on the outcome of the ED questioning."
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Over 1,000 Security Personnel Deployed At Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's Residence
Security was heightened around the Chief Minister's residence and the zonal office of the Enforcement Directorate. More than 1,000 security personnel were deployed, and a three-layer security arrangement was ensured, according to Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranchi, Chandan Kumar Sinha, PTI reported.
Barricading was done outside both the ED office and CM's residence, and restrictions on traffic movement near the CM's residence were implemented until the questioning concluded.
ED Action In Jharkhand Land Mining Case & Protest Over Soren's Questioning
The ED had sent a letter on January 13, asking the Chief Minister to be available for questioning between January 16 and January 20. Soren replied, suggesting that the ED could record his statement on January 20 at his residence.
The central agency's investigation focuses on a large-scale racket involving the illegal change of land ownership by mafia groups in Jharkhand.
According to PTI, Several tribal organisations held a protest march in Ranchi on Friday, with participants carrying traditional weapons, flags of the 'Sarna' religion, and posters of Soren. The posters, written in Hindi, stated, 'Stop harassing the tribal chief minister,' and protestors threatened a potential 'Ulgulan' (revolt) if the ED did not cease its activities against Soren.
'Ulgulan' refers to a historical movement initiated by Birsa Munda in the 19th century against the exploitation and discrimination of tribals by local authorities. In response to the ED summonses, a nine-hour strike was called in Sahibganj district on January 16 by the JMM.
The ED has made 14 arrests in the case, including Chhavi Ranjan, a 2011-batch IAS officer who served as the director of the state Social Welfare Department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi. Soren had filed petitions before the Supreme Court and the Jharkhand High Court seeking protection from ED action, terming the summonses unwarranted. Both courts dismissed his petitions.
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