Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has gone missing, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking to question him in a money laundering case. Soren’s party insists he is safe and in contact with them, but the ED has no information on his whereabouts. The ED has seized Soren’s BMW car and made some recoveries. The BJP alleges that Soren is absconding, while the JMM and Congress claim the ED’s actions are politically motivated. All MLAs of the ruling alliance have been asked to remain in Jharkhand for a meeting.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has made headlines as he has been missing for over 24 hours, according to official sources. The reason for his disappearance is his alleged involvement in a money laundering case, which has caught the attention of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
However, Soren’s party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), has assured the public that he is safe and in touch with them. They claim that the Chief Minister’s whereabouts are known to them, but the ED seems to have no information, as his staff’s phones are switched off.
To add to the drama, the ED has seized Soren’s BMW car in Delhi and has made some significant document and cash recoveries. This has only fueled speculation about the seriousness of the case.
According to reports, Soren left his Delhi residence late on Sunday night, and his chartered plane is still parked at Delhi airport. The ED has received a letter from Soren’s office, stating that he will make himself available for questioning at 1 pm tomorrow. This move is seen by many as an attempt to cooperate with the investigation.
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Jharkhand unit has wasted no time in claiming that Soren is “absconding” and has urged the Governor to take note of the situation. On the other hand, the JMM and Congress have alleged that the ED’s actions are politically motivated. They firmly believe that Soren will return to Ranchi soon.
In a show of support, the JMM has organized rallies across Jharkhand in solidarity with Soren. They are adamant that the Chief Minister is innocent and are rallying behind him during this challenging time.
Meanwhile, all MLAs of the ruling alliance have been asked to remain in Jharkhand for a meeting on Tuesday, indicating that the situation is being taken seriously by the government.
The investigation revolves around an alleged land ownership racket in Jharkhand, and so far, the ED has arrested 14 people in connection with the case. The JMM has raised concerns about the treatment of Chief Ministers by central institutions, questioning why a fresh summons was issued for Soren and criticizing the ED for arriving at his Delhi residence with armed personnel.
To aid in the search for Soren, the ED has enlisted the help of the Delhi Police after he was not found at his residence. However, the JMM claims that Soren had agreed to meet the probe team on Wednesday, further confusing the situation.
In anticipation of potential law and order issues, a security alert has been placed in Ranchi and other parts of Jharkhand.
It is worth mentioning that Soren had traveled to Delhi for “legal consultations” regarding the ED’s investigation into alleged money laundering. Only time will tell how this high-stakes saga unfolds and what consequences it may have on both Soren’s political career and the state of Jharkhand.