NEW DELHI: In a dramatic turn of events, Jharkhand is embroiled in political upheaval as former Chief Minister Hemant Soren has moved to the Supreme Court challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case related to an alleged land scam. A three-judge bench at the Supreme Court, led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, is scheduled to hear Soren’s plea at 10:30 am today, accompanied by Justices M M Sundaresh and Bela Trivedi.
Soren, a prominent leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was arrested by the ED on Wednesday after undergoing over seven hours of questioning on charges of money laundering associated with an alleged land fraud case. The former Chief Minister, in his plea to the Supreme Court, has raised serious allegations, claiming that the ED's actions are politically motivated and orchestrated by the central government with the intention of destabilizing the Jharkhand government.
Before his arrest, Hemant Soren submitted his resignation as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand to Governor CP Radhakrishnan. The political landscape is set to witness a transition, as JMM leader Champai Soren is poised to take the reins. Champai Soren, who has been serving as the state’s Transport Minister, is expected to be sworn in as the new Chief Minister in an oath ceremony likely to take place today at 12 pm.
The Raj Bhawan extended an invitation to Champai Soren on Thursday evening, following a meeting between Soren and Jharkhand Governor C P Radhakrishnan. During the meeting, Champai Soren, along with 42 other MLAs, urged the Governor to expeditiously accept his claim to form the government, citing the prevailing "confusion" in the state.
As the legal and political drama unfolds, Jharkhand finds itself at the center of attention with the Supreme Court set to examine the merit of Hemant Soren's plea, while the political landscape braces for a change with Champai Soren poised to assume leadership. The developments in the coming hours are anticipated to shape the future course of Jharkhand's political trajectory.