Jharkhand Political Crisis: Sleuths of the Enforcement Directorate reached the residence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in Ranchi on Wednesday amid tight security. The probe agency is set to question Soren in a money laundering case. Stringent security arrangements are in place outside Soren's residence. Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) and Anti-Naxal Force Jaguar personnel are also deployed. The Ranchi DC, SSP, SDM, are also present at the scene.
Soren, 48, who is also the executive president of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), had earlier been questioned in connection with the case on January 20. The questioning, however, remained incomplete on that day when he was grilled for more than seven hours, an official said.
The Jharkhand CM is being questioned as part of a probe into a "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, ED officials have said, as reported by PTI. Legislators of the ruling JMM-led coalition gathered at Soren’s residence to express their solidarity with the CM.
Health Minister and Congress leader Banna Gupta said Soren is cooperating in the investigation, but added that it was the duty of constitutional institutions to conduct such probes “properly”.
Speaking to PTI, State Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh said that all legislators stand solidly behind the chief minister. Meanwhile, JMM supporters were seen protesting at the nearby Morabadi Ground and in some other places in protest against the ED action against Soren. "Our chief minister is being deliberately harassed by the probe agency on directions from the Centre... We will resort to economic blockade in the entire state," one of the agitators said, as quoted by PTI.