Ex-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren sent to jail for 1 day
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been sent to judicial custody for one day. He was presented before a special court in Ranchi on Thursday morning after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged Rs. 600 crore land scam case. The court is expected to issue an order on the agency's 10-day custody request later on Friday.
Why does this story matter?
The ED arrested Soren on Wednesday night in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam after six hours of questioning. His arrest also came moments after he demitted the office of Jharkhand chief minister, and Champai Soren was named the state's next CM. The ED is investigating over a dozen land deals, including defense land, wherein mafias, middlemen, and bureaucrats allegedly connived to forge documents. The documents date as far back as 1932.
Soren approaches Supreme Court
Earlier, Soren approached the Supreme Court (SC) challenging his arrest by the ED in connection to the alleged land scam case. However, the ED believes Soren was "directly involved with the acquisition (and) possession of land" as well as the use of proceeds of the crime. Top lawyers Kapil Sibal and Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi are representing Soren, and the case will be heard by a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Friday.
Solicitor General points out similar petition in Jharkhand High Court
Appearing on behalf of the Union government, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta pointed out that Soren filed a similar petition in the Jharkhand High Court. The hearing was initially scheduled for Thursday morning. In response, Sibal said that the petition from the high court will be withdrawn. Mehta expressed concern about "fairness to the high court," as it had agreed to hear the case at Soren's request, but the petition was now being withdrawn.
Will withdraw HC petition: Sibal
Soren is 3rd Jharkhand CM to be arrested
After Wednesday, Soren became the third Jharkhand chief minister to be arrested after the ED took him into custody. Before Soren, his father, Shibu Soren, and Congress leader Madhu Koda were also similarly arrested. Soren, who assumed office for the second time on December 29, 2019, had skipped the previous nine ED summonses before he was eventually arrested. So far, 14 people, including IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan, have been arrested in the case.
Who is Champai, also known as 'Jharkhand Tiger'
Champai is the eldest son of Simal Soren, a farmer from Jilinggoda, Saraikela-Kharsawan district. In the late 1990s, he actively participated in the Jharkhand agitation alongside Soren's father, Shibu, and quickly became known as the "Jharkhand Tiger." Champai was first appointed cabinet minister in the BJP government led by Arjun Munda. He was later appointed minister of food, civil supplies, and transportation following the president's rule in 2013 when Soren formed a new government.
