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The arrest of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on money laundering charges related to an alleged land fraud case has sparked widespread protests. In response, various tribal outfits have called for a Jharkhand bandh (shutdown) as a show of solidarity and discontent.
Hemant Soren tendered his resignation as the Chief Minister before being taken into custody by the ED. The arrest followed over seven hours of questioning, during which Soren was perceived as “evasive” in his responses, leading to his detention under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Ajay Tirkey, the president of Kendriya Sarna Samiti, revealed that 15-20 tribal organizations from various parts of the state would participate in the shutdown. Expressing dissatisfaction, Tirkey stated, “Despite cooperating with the ED in the investigation, Hemant Soren was arrested. We strongly oppose this action.”
While announcing the shutdown, Tirkey assured that emergency services would not be disrupted, and schools would not be disturbed if open on Thursday. The bandh is intended to serve as a peaceful protest against Soren’s arrest and the circumstances surrounding it.
The ED’s investigation into the money laundering allegations against Hemant Soren is linked to the purported illegal possession of immovable assets and his alleged connections with members of the ‘land mafia.’ The central probe agency is delving into a “huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia” in Jharkhand.
So far, the ED has arrested 14 individuals in connection with the case, including a 2011-batch IAS officer and an employee of the Jharkhand land revenue department. The agency alleges “huge amounts of proceeds of crime generated by manipulation of official records” in the acquisition of valuable land parcels.
Hemant Soren is expected to be produced before a special PMLA court in Ranchi, where the ED will seek his remand for custodial interrogation. The unfolding legal proceedings will shed light on the intricate details of the alleged land scam and money laundering activities in Jharkhand.
