RANCHI: With the Enforcement Directorate (ED) tightening its noose round Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the state administration has imposed Section 144 below CrPc inside 100 meters radius of his residence, Raj Bhavan and ED workplace in Ranchi on Tuesday. According to information company ANI, the order will stay in pressure until 10 pm. During this era, any type of protest or demonstration has been banned. “According to the information received, there is information about protests, demonstrations, rallies etc., by various organizations/parties. The possibility of such programs causing disruption in government work, disrupting traffic, creating law and order problems and disturbing public peace cannot be ruled out,” the order stated.
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Section 144 CrPc imposed inside 100 meters radius of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s residence, Raj Bhavan and ED workplace in Ranchi pic.twitter.com/0A67WQykf5
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2024
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This comes because the ED officers visited Soren’s Delhi residence to query him in reference to a cash laundering investigation.
Will Record Statement Tomorrow: Soren
Meanwhile, the Jharkhand Chief Minister, in a letter to the Enforcement Directorate, stated he’ll file his assertion earlier than the company officers at 1 pm on Wednesday at his residence. While accepting to file his assertion, the Jharkhand chief minister alleged that questioning him presently was extra political and was meant to disrupt the functioning of his authorities.
“You are well aware that the Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly will be held between 2nd and 29th February 2024 and the undersigned will be pre-occupied with preparations for the same apart from other prior scheduled official engagements,” the letter written by Soren to ED’s Ranchi workplace stated.
“In these circumstances, your insistence to record a further statement of the undersigned on or before 31 January 2024 reeks of malice and reveals your political agenda to disrupt the functioning of the State Government and prevent an elected representative of the people from discharging his official duties,” Soren’s letter to the ED stated.
ED Seizes Soren’s BMW Car
On Monday, Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers seized a luxurious automobile belonging to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren from his Delhi residence late on Monday, in reference to the continuing probe right into a cash laundering case linked to an alleged land rip-off. Sources revealed that the BMW confiscated by the ED on Monday is believed to be acquired from the “proceeds of crime,” a major improvement within the ongoing probe. Soren reportedly utilized this automobile throughout his stays within the nationwide capital, including to the gravity of the seizure.
Besides, the Enforcement Directorate crew additionally recovered Rs 36 lakhs in money from Soren’s Delhi residence, stated sources.
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Section 144 CrPc imposed inside 100 meters radius of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s residence, Raj Bhavan and ED workplace in Ranchi pic.twitter.com/0A67WQykf5
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2024
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Despite repeated summons, Soren has eluded interrogation, elevating suspicions about his involvement within the case. He has notably ignored seven summons issued by the ED, with indications that he might contest them legally.
Cat-And-Mouse Chase
ED officers, decided to find Soren, have scoured each Jharkhand Bhawan and his father’s residence, however to no avail. His chartered airplane remained grounded on the Delhi Airport, additional complicating the search. In a bid to counter the ED’s actions, Soren seems poised to problem the ED summons within the Supreme Court, underscoring the escalating authorized battle between the 2 events.
The Enforcement Directorate officers visited the residence of Soren within the nationwide capital on Monday evening for questioning him in reference to the alleged land rip-off case and stated that the Jharkhand Chief Minister couldn’t be situated.
What Are The Allegations Against Soren?
The cash laundering case, amounting to a staggering Rs 600 crore, alleges a widespread conspiracy involving the illicit switch and sale of presidency land to builders. Notably, the ED has apprehended 14 people to date, together with high-ranking officers like IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan.
Conspiracy By BJP: Soren
However, Soren has vehemently denied the accusations, attributing them to a concerted effort to malign his popularity. He has rallied assist from his celebration members, vowing to confront the purported conspirators head-on.
Political Turmoil In Jharkhand
The Jharkhand BJP has seized upon the scenario, accusing Soren of evading authorities and undermining the state’s integrity. The BJP has now alleged that Soren has “gone missing.” “Today, the honour and respect of the people of Jharkhand were destroyed by our Chief Minister Hemant Soren ji, just by going missing,” BJP parliamentarian from Jharkhand, Nishikant Dubey, wrote on his X timeline. Reports about Soren’s alleged escape from his Delhi residence shrouded in secrecy and hypothesis, have additional fuelled the controversy surrounding his involvement within the case.Â