Arrest denied “Hemant Soren Arrested in Money Laundering Case After Resignation; Champai Soren to Assume Chief Minister’s Role”
Ranchi, [01/02/2024]:- Arrest denied Hemant Soren Arrested in Money Laundering Case After Resignation
In a significant and anticipated development in Jharkhand’s political landscape, Hemant Soren, the former chief minister, has been arrested in connection with a money laundering case. The arrest came shortly after Mr. Soren tendered his resignation, marking a seismic shift in the state’s political dynamics.
Top officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) revealed to NDTV that Hemant Soren refused to sign his arrest memo until he formally submitted his resignation to Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan. According to sources, ED officials escorted the chief minister to the Raj Bhavan to finalize his resignation before taking him to the ED office in Ranchi for questioning and subsequent formal arrest.
The money laundering case is linked to an alleged ₹600-crore land scam, and prior to his resignation, Hemant Soren faced extensive questioning at his residence in Ranchi for at least six hours.
Surprisingly, the chosen successor to Hemant Soren has raised eyebrows in political circles
Surprisingly, the chosen successor to Hemant Soren has raised eyebrows in political circles. Contrary to earlier speculations that his wife Kalpana Soren would take over, the reins of the state will be handed over to Champai Soren, a senior JMM leader and the outgoing cabinet’s transport minister.
The ED’s arrest unfolded two days after a search operation at Hemant Soren’s residence in Delhi, where officials seized ₹36 lakh in cash and a BMW car, which they claimed belonged to him. Despite not finding Mr. Soren at the location, the ED faced criticism from the BJP, accusing him of being ‘on the run.’
Earlier on the same day as his arrest, Hemant Soren filed a case against senior officers of the Enforcement Directorate’s Ranchi office under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The complaint alleged harassment and defamation during Monday’s operation. Mr. Soren, belonging to a scheduled tribe, emphasized that the action targeted not only him but his entire community.
Addressing the allegations, Hemant Soren clarified that he was not the owner of the seized BMW or the cash. He accused ED officers of selectively leaking misinformation to tarnish his image. As the political landscape in Jharkhand undergoes a significant transformation, the aftermath of these developments remains uncertain.
