Look Back: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Arrested in Corruption Case

By A Staff Reporter

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) party, was arrested on Wednesday evening by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after resigning from his position earlier in the day. Soren faces allegations of corruption related to illegal land transactions in Ranchi, a charge he denies, calling the investigation politically motivated.

The ED accuses Soren of purchasing a piece of land in Ranchi using "proceeds of crime" derived from the illegal sale of Indian army-owned property. Soren has vehemently denied the accusations, stating the property was wrongfully attributed to him.

After refusing multiple ED summons, Soren reappeared in Ranchi earlier this week and agreed to record his statement. On Wednesday, after seven hours of questioning, he was taken into custody. The arrest followed a tense day in Ranchi, where a curfew was imposed within 100 meters of the chief minister's residence and the ED office.

In the wake of his resignation, JMM has announced transport minister Champai Soren as the new chief minister of Jharkhand. The party condemned the arrest, describing it as a politically motivated "witch-hunt" orchestrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2024 general elections.

The JMM is part of INDIA, a coalition of opposition parties aiming to challenge the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. The Congress party, a key ally in the coalition, also criticized Soren’s arrest, calling it a "blow to federalism."

The BJP, however, has denied allegations of political interference, maintaining that central agencies operate independently.

Soren has challenged his arrest in the Supreme Court, arguing it is a targeted move to weaken the opposition. The court is scheduled to hear the case on Friday. Meanwhile, the ED continues its probe, claiming to have seized cash and assets linked to the case.