Party MLAs request to be in Ranchi, saying Hemant Soren still untraceable

All members of the ruling alliance led by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) have been instructed to remain in Ranchi for a meeting on Tuesday addressing the state’s current political situation, amidst concerns of Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s potential arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged land fraud case.

The proposed meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence aims to strategize on the political scenario and the ED’s scheduled questioning of Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday regarding the land case, as confirmed by JMM general secretary and spokesperson Vinod Kumar Singh.

“They will meet on Tuesday to discuss the future course of action,” he stated.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren, responding to the ED, agreed to record his statement in connection with an alleged land scam at his official residence in Ranchi on January 31 at 1 pm.

When queried about Soren’s return to Ranchi, Singh did not provide a response.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan emphasized the importance of adhering to the law, stating, “Like you (media), we are also waiting for the Chief Minister’s response. Nobody is above the law. We have to work within the Constitution. We want law and order to be maintained.”

Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been imposed within a 100-meter radius of Soren’s official residence, Raj Bhavan, and the ED office in Ranchi.

JMM legislators had stayed at Soren’s official residence in Delhi until late night on Monday following an ED team’s visit for questioning in connection with a money laundering investigation related to an alleged land fraud case.

ED had previously questioned Soren on January 20 in Ranchi and issued a tenth summons for questioning on either January 29 or January 31. Soren had skipped the previous nine summons.

Official sources suggested that Soren was “missing” and could not be contacted by the probe agency. However, he had sent an email agreeing to a fresh round of questioning by the ED investigators on January 31 at his Ranchi residence around 1 pm.

The JMM criticized the ED’s actions as “unconstitutional” and alleged political motivation, claiming that Soren has no connection to the case.