1. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, previously reported as “untraceable” by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), surfaced at his official residence in Ranchi.
2. Soren’s appearance came after ED searches at his Delhi residence linked to an alleged land fraud case, quelling concerns about his whereabouts.
3. Chief Minister’s return to Ranchi triggered heightened political tensions, with speculation surrounding potential ED questioning and arrest.
Ranchi, Jan 30: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who was reported as “untraceable” by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for over 30 hours, made a public appearance at his official residence in Ranchi on Tuesday.
Amid heightened speculation about his location, Soren arrived in his official car, acknowledging the media and dispelling concerns after ED searches at his Delhi residence on Monday related to an alleged land fraud case.
The Chief Minister convened a meeting with legislators from the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) to discuss the state’s political situation and the ED’s intended questioning in the land case on Wednesday.
There have been suggestions that Soren might face arrest if he appears before the ED. His wife, Kalpana Soren, attended the meeting, leading to speculation about a potential transition in the event of her husband’s arrest. All MLAs from the JMM-led alliance were directed to stay in Ranchi for the meeting.
Also Read: Tipra Motha Nears Constitutional Solution in Tripura as Talks with MHA Enter Final Stage
Soren, who had departed for Delhi from Ranchi on January 27, sent an email to the ED agreeing to fresh questioning on January 31 at his Ranchi residence around 1 pm.
The ED had previously questioned Soren on January 20 and issued a tenth summons, but he has reportedly skipped nine summons so far.
JMM legislators stayed at Soren’s official residence in Delhi until late on Monday following the ED team’s visit.
The ED’s action against Soren has been criticized by the JMM as “unconstitutional,” with claims that it appears politically motivated. While in Delhi for personal reasons, Soren’s return to Ranchi and the subsequent ED developments have triggered heightened political tensions.
Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been imposed in the vicinity of Soren’s official residence, Raj Bhavan, and the ED office in Ranchi.
