The challenges for former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, currently in judicial remand for an alleged land scam, appear to be escalating. New revelations from Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials suggest that Soren, along with officers in close proximity, not only participated in acquiring government lands but also engaged in the transfer posting of officers through bribery.
ED officials uncovered this fresh allegation against Soren through WhatsApp chats obtained during their investigation. A total of 539 pages of WhatsApp conversations between Soren and his close associate Binod Singh, an architect, were presented in court. The ED contended that documents related to the transfer of Bokaro and Chalbasa Jail Superintendent were found on the mobile device, indicating discussions on the rates for transfer postings.
The ED claims that these chats indicate Soren’s involvement in acquiring government land through document forgery and manipulation, as well as engaging in irregularities related to transfer postings and accepting money by exploiting his position.
Simultaneously, the PMLA court in Ranchi extended Soren’s ED remand by an additional 5 days, despite the agency’s request for a 7-day extension.