SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, February 12: Accusing former Chief Minister Hemant Soren of ‘acute non-cooperation and reluctance to divulge true facts regarding the properties he acquired and other persons connected to him, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today produced 201 pages of WhatsApp chats with his friend and architect Binod Singh.
It added that these chats contain information regarding proposed structures over 8.5 acres of land in Bariatu near DAV School, which Soren was trying to acquire illegally.
WhatsApp chat between Binod Sigh and Hemant Soren
Seeking four days’ remand, the ED said that the scrutiny of the WhatsApp chat between Binod Sigh and Hemant Soren has led to the identification of a plan/map of a proposed banquet shared by Binod Singh to Hemant Soren on 06.04.2021.
Location of proposed banquet hall
“The location of the proposed banquet mentioned in the said plan matches with the said 8.5 acres of land, which is illegally acquired and possessed by Hemant Soren,” it added.
The court, however, granted three days more to question Soren.
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Soren was produced in court today after his 10-day custody, initially granted to the ED on February 5, ended today.
The ED arrested the former chief minister on January 31 for illegally acquiring 8.5 acres of land in Ranchi.
Survey on 8.5 acres of land
The agency said that a survey was also conducted on February 10 in the presence of the officials of the Circle Office, Baragai, Anchal Ameen, Binod Singh, and Bhanu Pratap Prasad. It has been corroborated that the locality of the banquet hall, as per the plan shared by Binod Singh, and the area of 8.5 acres of land acquired by Hemant Soren, under investigation, are the same. Also, there is no such big parcel of land available in the said locality where such a big structure can be planned for construction,” it added.
Soren not producing mobile: ED
The ED told the court that Soren was requested to produce his mobile in which he had conversations and chats with Binod Singh. “However, he has submitted frivolous reasons for not producing his mobile to conceal information associated with the properties acquired and possessed by him, which are nothing but proceeds of crime,” the ED said in its remand paper.
Why did ED get three days more?
The ED sought Soren’s custodial interrogation for investigation of the properties that were freshly identified during his custody and to identify the trail of funds linked to them.
Besides, the ED also wants to confront Soren with the contents of the materials available in WhatsApp chats, the findings and outcome of the investigation in this case and the statements of other witnesses.
It also wants to confront Hemant Soren with the outcome of searches and surveys conducted after his arrest in this case.
539-page WhatsApp chat
On February 7, the ED brought a litany of charges into the public domain.
These charges involved misusing his position not only to acquire the proceeds of crime but also to destroy the evidence to conceal the proceeds of crime.
Corrupt practices
Earlier, the ED brought to the court’s notice a 539-page WhatsApp chat between Binod Singh and Soren. “These WhatsApp chats not only include the exchange of confidential information regarding several properties but other incriminating information relating to transfer posting, sharing of government records, etc., out of which huge amounts of money appear to have been generated and transacted,” it said.
Transfer-posting, JSSC admit cards
“In addition to this, Binod Singh has WhatsApp chats with several other persons about transfer posting of officials, possession and sharing of several admit cards of students appearing for competitive exams held by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission,” the ED stated.
Evidence tampering
The ED has said that after issuing the first summons to illegally acquire 8.5 acres of land in Bariatu near DAV School, Hemant Soren indulged in blatant misuse of power in hampering and frustrating the evidence linked to this case.
