Where is Jharkhand CM? Hemant Soren Missing As ED Investigate Land Scam (image-twitter/HemantSorenJMM)
A political row erupted as the Jharkhand BJP claimed that the chief minister Hemant Soren had gone ‘missing’, fearing action from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over the alleged money laundering case.
An ED team on Monday visited the Delhi residence of the Jharkhand chief minister to question him but the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader was not at home.
However, the JMM leadership rubbished the claim and stated that the chief minister will appear before the investigating agency on Wednesday. While the BJP leaders are in an attempt to brand the CM as an “absconder”, reports Hindustan Times.
In a statement late on Wednesday, the JMM asked, “What was the hurry of the ED officials that they couldn’t wait two days for questioning… is this not an insult to the chief minister and the 3.5 crore people of the state?”
A family member of Soren has alleged that a “false” narrative was being set to “delegitimize” Soren.
This is the tenth summons issued to Soren in the land scam case. The drama unfolded on Monday at Soren’s residence around 9 am. Unable to find the chief minister, the ED searched the premises for over 13 hours. The agency also seized a Haryana-registered BMW car from Soren’s residence apart from other documents.
The central agency alleged a case of land scam linked to the ownership of a parcel of land measuring 7.16 acres in the Bajra area of Ranchi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The agency has alleged that the land parcel was acquired through proceeds of crime involving the illegal sale of army land. But the chief minister dismissed all the claims stated by the agency and said the case is politically motivated. He also added that the details of his assets are public.
The ED team has claimed that they have reached the premises after receiving some fresh information regarding the case. The Delhi police were also seen stationed outside the house while the ED was carrying out its search operation.
The JMM leader conveyed to ED’s Ranchi zone assistant director on Sunday that he will appear before the agency at his residence at 1 pm on January 31. The federal agency has asked to confirm his appearance either on January 29 or January 31 for further questioning.
JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said in a press conference in Ranchi that “the CM has gone to Delhi for personal work”, and he will return soon. The party also claimed that the central agency is trying to destabilize the government in the state and alleged that the agency is reduced to political puppets.
Regarding the case, 14 people have so far been arrested including the 2011-batch IAS Officer Chhavi Ranjan, deputy commissioner of Ranchi, Bhanu Pratap Prasad, and businessman Amit Agarwal and Bishnu Agarwal who owns shopping malls in Ranchi.
The Jharkhand chief minister was questioned for almost seven hours on January 20, after skipping summons since August.
After the questioning, Soren stated that the agency wrongfully alleged that the land was owned and possessed by him. But then he clarified that the ‘Bhumihari land’ cannot be sold or alienated as it has been owned by the Pahan family for over five decades, Soren wrote in a letter.
