THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, February 6: A day after former Chief Minister Hemant Soren dared the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the State Assembly to show the papers mentioning his name in the land records of 8.5 acres of land, BJP state president Babulal Marandi explained how the former unsuccessfully tried to come clean on the issue.
Watchman’s audio video
Addressing a press conference, he first showed the media the audio video of Santosh Munda, the watchman of the 8.5-acre land located in Bariatu, in which he says that Hemant Soren was the owner of the land mentioned above.
Black money
Marandi said that Hemant Soren adopted the method of investing money in land to hide his black money. “Soren purchased 8.5 acres of land in Bariatu surrounded by stone walls in someone else’s name,” he alleged.
“Due to this, this case is being investigated under money laundering. Had his name been in the record, it would have been investigated under the provisions for acquiring disproportionate assets,” he said.
Chronology of how Soren tried to come clean: Marandi
To make it more precise, he said that the ED first summoned Hemant Soren on August 14, 2023. He did not attend due to the Independence Day celebrations but sensed the ED action.
On August 16, 2023, Rajkumar Pahan said that the abovementioned land was under him and that another authorised person’s name should be rejected. On the same day, the letter reaches the regional officer. On January 9, 2024, the SAR officer sought a Circle Inspector (CI) report.
In his report on January 11, 2024, the CI said that Santosh Pahan has been living there with his family for over five years; the land title is registered in the name of the Pahan family; the land is of Bhuinhari nature and cannot be sold.
On January 29, the Special Regulation Officer (SAR) restored the 8.5 acres of land to Raj Kumar Pahan.
“The ED raided Soren’s Delhi residence on January 29 and has probably seized the Register II from there,” Marandi pointed out.
Soren produces land papers in SC
Incidentally, Hemant Soren, challenging his arrest by the ED, produced all these documents along with his petition in the Supreme Court on February 1.
Marandi said this is an example of land loot by the Soren family. “Shibu Soren’s family has bought land even after changing the name. Hemant Soren became Hemant Kumar Soren, and Shibu Soren became Shiv Soren. Durga Soren became Durga Prasad Soren,” he alleged.
Soren’s bungalow in Dumka
The BJP chief said that the ownership of half of the land within the boundary of Hemant Soren’s huge bungalow at Khajuria in Dumka is in the name of Yogendra Tiwari, who the ED arrested in the liquor scam.
Marandi said that Hemant Soren is currently in the custody of ED, but while speaking on the confidence motion of the Champai Soren government, he was speaking as if he had not done anything wrong.
He said that no thief accepts being caught stealing.
“Hemant Soren is in panic when the layers of his corruption and loot are being exposed,” Marandi signed off.
