Hummingbird News Desk
RANCHI, 31 JAN: Hemant Soren, the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and prominent leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was arrested today by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam in Ranchi.
Soren’s arrest unfolded shortly after he tendered his resignation from the post of Chief Minister. Accompanied by a team of ED officials, he was apprehended at the Raj Bhavan under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). The ED alleges that Soren was among the primary beneficiaries of the purported land scam, which involved property dealers and businessmen over several years.
The arrest comes after Soren had reportedly evaded multiple summons from the ED, finally appearing for questioning on January 20. However, he skipped subsequent summons, prompting the issuance of fresh notices. Despite claims of his availability for questioning by his party, Soren remained untraceable, leading to heightened speculation about his whereabouts.
The situation escalated when the BJP announced a reward for information on Soren’s location, alleging that the former CM had gone missing. However, Soren resurfaced today in Ranchi, where he convened a meeting of MLAs from the ruling JMM-Congress alliance. During the meeting, his loyalist Champai Soren was elected as the new leader of the Legislative Party.
Shortly thereafter, ED officials arrived at Soren’s residence and subjected him to questioning for several hours before formally placing him under arrest at the agency’s Ranchi office around 1 pm.
The arrest of a prominent political figure like Hemant Soren has sent shockwaves through the state’s political landscape, raising questions about the ramifications for the ruling alliance and the future of governance in Jharkhand. As developments continue to unfold, the spotlight remains firmly on the unfolding legal and political saga surrounding Soren’s arrest.
Tags: #HemantSoren #JharkhandCM #Ranchi #JMM #ED #LandScam
