On Saturday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned the Jharkhand government Chief Minister Hemant Soren for eight hours, in connection with a land scam. However, the leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) stated that it was an attempt to degrade the government of the state.
ED questioning to CM Soren
A team of officials from the probe agency reached CM Soren’s residence at 1 pm yesterday and began questioning at around 2:59 pm, according to the officials. The questioning revolved around the 8.5-acre plot in the Bariyatu area. The ED took out the details of the acquisition, bank details, financial transactions, and other relevant evidence related to the land.
The ED is tasked with investing in financial crimes like money laundering. So, they might have questioned Soren’s adherence to relevant financial regulations during transactions. Moreover, the alleged land scam might involve other entities and individuals. The ED might have questioned Soren regarding recognising them and their potential role in the case.
Soren’s Response to Probe Agency Questioning
Soren’s response to the questioning was multi-faceted, encompassing with criticism, defiance and political mobilization. After the questioning session of ED was over, he addressed his supporters standing outside of his residence. He termed the ED’s action as “politically motivated” and an attempt to “destabilize” the democratically elected government.
Further, Soren accused ED of being a tool of the Central government and engaging in “political vendetta” against him and his JMM party. Both the supporters and Soren criticized the ED for selectively targeting him and opposition leaders while ignoring alleged corruption cases involving members of the ruling party.
JMM Party criticize ED’s Action
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has strongly criticized the ED’s action of questioning the party leader for many hours, in connection with the land scam. They accused the ED of misusing its power and targeting Soren specifically because he belongs to an opposition party.
Moreover, the party criticized ED for not following the process during questioning. They pointed out that Soren was questioned at his residence instead of the ED’s office, which they consider disrespectful and a violation of his position as Chief Minister. For this, they held demonstrations across the state in support of Soren and against the ED, which aimed to amplify his message of defiance and opposition to the central government.
About the Tribal Land Scam of Jharkhand
The ‘tribal land scam’ in Jharkhand is a complex and ongoing issue with multiple layers and controversies. It involves the alleged fraudulent acquisition of land belonging to tribal communities in Jharkhand. The land is then often sold to non-tribal individuals for commercial purposes, displacing tribal communities from their ancestral lands and livelihoods.
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