Hemant Soren resigns and has been arrested
Champai Soren, will be the new Chief Minister
Hemant Soren resigns as Jharkhand's Chief Minister. Champai Soren, member of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly will be the new Chief Minister. Hemant Soren submitted his resignation letter to the governor CP Radhakrishnan in the Raj Bhavan, Jharkhand. Hemant Soren has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate after hours of investigation.
Earlier, Hemant Soren had lodged an FIR against the Enforcement Directorate officials over search investigation at his official residence in Delhi under the SC/ST act. The Enforcement Directorate found 36 lakhs in cash and accusable documents during the search investigation.
Hemant Soren accused in money laundering and illegal sale and purchase of land scams
The Enforcement Directorate probed money laundering and illegal sale and purchase of land in Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand. Earlier, on 20th January the Enforcement Directorate recorded Hemant Soren's statement at his official residence in Ranchi. On 22nd January the Enforcement Directorate team raided Hemant Soren's official residence in Delhi, although Hemant was not present there, the ED team continued the search investigation of his residence.
The case began when a tax collector working for the Ranchi Municipal Corporation filed a complaint against Pradeep Bagchi for forging documents to claim the ownership of 4.5 acres of land in Ranchi which was sold to a Kolkata based Jagat Bandhu Tea State Pvt Ltd. Taking cognizance of the FRI by Jharkhand police in 2022, the Enforcement Directorate registered an enforcement complaint information report in October 2022. The Enforcement Directorate alleged that the 4.5 acres of land belonged to Jayant Karnad who is the descendant of BM Lakshman Rao who had given the land to defense before Independence. The Enforcement Directorate had alleged that the documents were forged in the circle office in Ranchi and the registrar office of Records in Kolkata to show that the land belonged to Praful Bagchi, father of the accused Pradeep Bagchi. The Enforcement Directorate further alleged that the ownership transfer took place when IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan was the Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi between July 2020 and July 2022. Chhavi Ranjan along with Prem Prakash and Amit Aggarwal had conspired this whole incident and orchestrated the forgery of documents. The Enforcement Directorate team arrested 14 people in this case including Chhavi Ranjan, Amit Aggarwal and other administrative officials in Ranchi who were part of the conspiracy in almost 6 land parcels of 236 crores.
Hemant Soren had also been accused of illegal Stone mining in the Sahibganj district of Jharkhand. Enforcement Directorate had alleged that stone mining at the Nimbu Pahadi area of Sahibganj has benefitted the conspirators with 1200 crores or maybe more. Pankaj Mishra, MLA representative was accused as the chief conspirator in this scam. The Enforcement Directorate had also raided 12 other locations in Jharkhand and 8 accused are under judicial custody.
Rumours related to Kalpana Soren
Earlier Hemant Soren had rejected the speculations of his wife Kalpana Soren becoming the next Chief Minister of Jharkhand in case he gets arrested.
