Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren Arrested by ED, Resigns; Champai Soren to Assume Leadership
In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today arrested Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren after an extensive seven-hour interrogation in Ranchi. Following the questioning, Hemant Soren tendered his resignation as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The arrest comes amid heightened security measures, including the imposition of Section 144, a key bureaucratic reshuffle, and the implementation of a curfew within a 100-metre radius of the Chief Minister’s residence, Raj Bhavan, and the ED office in Ranchi.
Accompanied by ED officials, Hemant Soren proceeded to the Governor’s house, as confirmed by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Manjhi. Champai Soren, a senior cabinet minister in Hemant Soren’s government, is expected to assume the role of the next Chief Minister. The ED is set to present Hemant Soren before a court tomorrow around 11 am.
Prior to Soren’s arrest, Section 144 was enforced outside the Chief Minister’s residence, and a significant reshuffle occurred in the state’s bureaucracy. Notably, the state’s home secretary, Avinash Kumar, was removed from the post, and the additional charge of the home department was handed over to the state chief secretary, L Khiangte.
Hemant Soren, who had been avoiding ED summons for an extended period, allowed questioning in the case today. Reports indicate that nine ED officials were present at Soren’s residence to conduct the probe. Security around CM Soren’s residence and Raj Bhawan was heightened in anticipation of the developments.
In the hours preceding his arrest, two tourist buses transported JMM-Congress-RJD MLAs from CM Soren’s residence to the governor’s house. In a meeting held the previous night, CM Soren reportedly had MLAs supporting him sign on two blank papers, one featuring the name of his wife, Kalpana Soren, and the other, Champai Soren. With Hemant Soren’s absence, one of these two leaders is expected to assume leadership in the state. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MLAs have secured a meeting with the Governor to discuss the unfolding situation.