In connection with the FIR lodged by former Chief Minister Hemant Soren under the Schedule Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Ranchi police have issued a notice to Enforcement Directorate officials, summoning them to join the investigation in the third week of March.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Ranchi stated, “A notice has been sent. The investigating officer (IO) would be able to give more details. Currently, he is out of station for some cases,” as ANI reported.
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Previously, ED lodged a petition against the FIR in the Jharkhand High Court, which subsequently ordered a halt to any coercive actions against the ED officials involved.
Soren’s FIR alleged that the ED’s searches at his residences in Shantiniketan, Delhi, and Jharkhand Bhawan on January 29 were conducted with the motive to tarnish his image. He further accused the ED officials of discriminating against him based on his tribal identity and tarnishing his reputation. Based on his complaint, the Jharkhand Police registered an FIR under relevant sections of the ST-SC (PA) Act on January 31.
Furthermore, Soren’s request to participate in the budget session of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly was denied by the Jharkhand High Court on February 29.
Soren was arrested on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Consequently, he tendered his resignation as Chief Minister to the Jharkhand Governor after being questioned by the ED.
Earlier, the ED had claimed to have seized over Rs 36 lakh in cash from Soren’s possession, along with documents pertaining to the investigation into the alleged fraudulent acquisition of land. The agency alleged that 8.5 acres of land were acquired through illicit means and formed part of Soren’s ill-gotten gains.
He resigned as Chief Minister and handed over his position to the Jharkhand Governor after being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding an alleged land scam under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The ED has claimed to have discovered over Rs 36 lakh in cash and documents related to the investigation into fraudulent land acquisition from the possession of the JMM chief. They also claimed that 8.5 acres of land were obtained through criminal means by the former CM.
Additionally, during a raid on April 13, 2023, the ED uncovered property-related documents in the possession of Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad. Investigations revealed that Prasad and others were part of a large group involved in corrupt practices of forcefully acquiring properties or using false deeds.