Enforcement Directorate

Hemant Soren, a leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), had to resign as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand anticipating his arrest. In his petition to the Supreme Court, Soren accused the ED of arresting him as part of a "well-orchestrated conspiracy" by the Centre, particularly with Lok Sabha elections looming in the coming months.

A Special Leave Petition (SLP) has been filed on behalf of the Jharkhand CM, and the Supreme Court is set to hear the plea on Friday. Simultaneously, Soren has expressed the intent to withdraw the petition filed in the Jharkhand High Court related to the same matter.

The day witnessed swift developments as Hemant Soren tendered his resignation to the Governor at Raj Bhavan, and the ruling coalition members chose senior JMM leader and Transport Minister Champai Soren as his successor. The ED had been questioning Hemant Soren at his residence and informed him of his arrest due to dissatisfaction with his answers.

Speaking to the media in Bhagalpur, Mandal stated, "If anyone gives me Rs 5 crore and asks me to keep it, I will not delay for even a minute and accept the money. Why would I refuse Laxmi from coming into my house? I have no fear of ED or anyone else."

During his custody by the ED, Hemant Soren met with the Governor and submitted his resignation. Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur confirmed the decision, stating, “CM Hemant Soren has decided to resign. Champai Soren has been chosen as the new leader of the Legislative party… All the MLAs are with us.” The JMM and Congress are coalition partners in the state.

In his complaint, Soren stated that he was in New Delhi on January 27 and 28, staying at Shanti Niketan, a property leased by the state of Jharkhand for residential and office purposes. He claimed to have learned on January 29 that ED officials, along with others, allegedly searched the premises without informing him. Soren emphasized that the officials leaked selective and misleading information, asserting that a blue BMW car and a significant amount of illicit cash were seized from the premises. He refuted ownership of the BMW car and denied possession of any illicit cash.

The ongoing interrogation is part of an investigation into an alleged "huge racket of illegal change of land ownership by the mafia" in Jharkhand, according to officials from the Enforcement Directorate.

The search, lasting nearly 13 hours, resulted in the seizure of Rs 36 lakh, an SUV, and what the ED claimed to be "incriminating" documents. Soren, the executive president of the ruling JMM, had left for Delhi on January 27, with his scheduled government programs in the state canceled.

The ED had issued fresh summons to Chief Minister Soren, asking him to confirm his availability for further questioning on either January 29 or January 31.

Rohit Pawar, aged 38, is a first-time NCP MLA representing the Karjat-Jamkhed seat in the Maharashtra assembly and serves as the owner and CEO of Baramati Agro. He is affiliated with the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).