The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is set to arrive at Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence in Ranchi today to record his statement in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam involving him.

Putting an end to the hide-and-seek game, Soren wrote a letter to the ED dated January 29, stating that he would record his statement before the agency officials at 1 pm on Wednesday at his residence after he allegedly went missing when ED tried to reach his Delhi residence for questioning in the same case on Monday.

Also Read:After fresh ED summons, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s ‘unplanned visit’ to Delhi

In preparation for Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s questioning, prohibitory orders have been imposed in key areas of Ranchi. A three-member team, led by Finance Secretary Prashant Kumar and including Mines Director Arva Rajkamal and Special Branch IG Prabhat Kumar, has been assigned to oversee the law and order situation in the Jharkhand capital.

Despite agreeing to cooperate in recording his statement, the Jharkhand Chief Minister has alleged that the timing of the questioning is politically motivated and aimed at disrupting the functioning of his government.

According to an official release, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC are effective from 9 am to 10 pm within a 100-meter radius at key locations, including the CM House, Raj Bhavan, and the ED office at Doranda. As part of these restrictions, demonstrations, rallies, or meetings are prohibited in and around these areas.

Also Read:ED issues fresh summons to Hemant Soren for questioning in ‘land scam’ case

In response to protests during Soren’s previous questioning on January 20, the ED has written to the Department of Home, Prison, and Disaster Management, urging them to ensure law and order during the upcoming round of questioning on Wednesday.

To bolster security, barricades have been erected outside the ED office and the Chief Minister’s residence, with over 1,000 security personnel strategically deployed. On Tuesday, DGP Ajay Kumar Singh stated that elaborate security arrangements, including the deployment of an additional 7,000 policemen, have been made across Jharkhand to maintain law and order.

Yesterday, quashing all rumours on his absconding reports, Jharkhand CM returned to Ranchi and chaired a meeting of his alliance MLAs.

Also Read: ‘Hemant Soren to continue as CM’: Allies back JMM leader as ED tightens noose

In the meeting held on January 30, legislators from the ruling JMM-led coalition partners in Jharkhand expressed their solidarity with the Hemant Soren government during a meeting. In a show of support, they collectively signed a letter, withholding individual names amid speculations that Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s wife, Kalpana Soren, might assume leadership.

Despite not being a legislator, Kalpana Soren attended a meeting of lawmakers earlier in the day. Two rounds of meetings took place on January 30, a day before the Chief Minister’s scheduled questioning by the ED in connection with an alleged land fraud case.

Transport Minister and senior JMM leader Champai Soren, addressing the situation, stated, “We are ready for what may come… The BJP is abusing central agencies to destabilise a democratically elected government but we will not allow them to succeed in their mission,” PTI reported.

He clarified that the meeting was called to express legislators’ solidarity with the Chief Minister in the current circumstances. “There is no proposal. We stand united. We also signed a support letter without any name in case it is required,” another legislator told PTI.