Hemant Soren Files Police Complaint Against ED Under SC/ST Act

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren filed a police complaint against Enforcement Directorate officials on Wednesday. He demanded action against the ED officers under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

This comes as probe agency officials questioned Soren at his residence in Ranchi in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. This is the second time that Soren was questioned by the ED in over 10 days.

He was earlier questioned in connection with the same case on January 20. To keep the law and order situation under control, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed in Ranchi during the questioning.

The probe agency officials also sought extra security during questioning. Legislators of the ruling JMM-led coalition gathered at Hemant Soren’s residence ahead of his questioning by the ED.

As per the Ed officials, Soren is being questioned as part of an investigation into a huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia in Jharkhand. The Enforcement Directorate officials had seized ₹36 lakh, an SUV and some incriminating documents during search operations at his house in Delhi on Monday.

Meanwhile, Soren has alleged that the financial agency probe’s actions were motivated by political agenda to disrupt the state government’s functioning.