In a dramatic turn of events, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) shortly after tendering his resignation. The arrest is linked to an alleged land scam, and the political landscape witnessed a swift transition as Transport Minister Champai Soren stepped into the vacated role.
Hemant Soren's arrest came minutes after he submitted his resignation to the governor. Sources revealed that he had previously discussed the matter with officials, committing to sign the arrest memo only after stepping down. The ED, investigating an alleged ₹600 crore land scam, had summoned Mr Soren multiple times.
Anticipating his arrest, Hemant Soren had evaded ED summons over the weekend but agreed to be questioned this afternoon. During the questioning, his statement was recorded. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha engaged in strategic discussions regarding his successor, ultimately selecting Transport Minister Champai Soren over initial considerations of Hemant Soren's wife, Kalpana Soren.
Initially, Kalpana Soren was a potential successor, but considerations shifted due to the impending state elections in November. Election norms restricted by-elections in the last year of an assembly term, making it impractical for Kalpana Soren to be elected an MLA even if appointed Chief Minister.
The ED's investigation into the alleged land scam involves a significant racket orchestrating the change of ownership of government land for sale to builders. Fourteen individuals, including a 2011-batch IAS officer, have been arrested in connection with the case. Mr Soren claims to be the target of a massive conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP.
Following his arrest, Hemant Soren posted Hindi verses on X (formerly Twitter), expressing resilience and determination. He asserted his commitment to the battle of life and proclaimed fearlessness in the face of defeat or victory. State Minister Mithilesh Thakur attributed the arrest to a BJP conspiracy, affirming the government's majority and its determination to persist.