Jharkhand: Hemant Soren Sent To Judicial Custody Of Another 14 Days In Land Scam Case, JMM Workers Conduct Silent Protest

After spending 14 days in the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) custody, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was sent to judicial custody for another 14 days on Thursday (15 February).

Soren was arrested on the late night of 31 January in a land scam case after the ED alleged a "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" taking place in Jharkhand.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader will stay at the Birsa Munda Central Jail, The Hindu reported. The party workers staged a silent protest in leadership of JMM Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Manjhi.

The agency has previously arrested 14 individuals in connection with the case, including Chhavi Ranjan, a 2011-batch Indian Administrative Service officer who previously served as the director of the state social welfare department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi.

However, Soren refutes these allegations and said in assembly during Champai Soren's trust vote that the agency cannot show documents of 8.5 acres land registered in Hemant Soren's name. "If it is proved, I will quit politics," he added.

Subsequently, new Jharkhand CM Champai Soren was able to win the trust vote as the ruling alliance of JMM-Congress secured a total of 47 votes, including the support of a nominated member, in the 81-member house.