Tag: Jharkhand Chief Minister

  • JMM's Champai Soren to be next Jharkhand Chief Minister as Hemant Soren to steps down

    JMM's Champai Soren to be next Jharkhand Chief Minister as Hemant Soren to steps down

  • Mining row: ED rejects Jharkhand CM’s request to advance summons

    By PTI

    RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate has not agreed to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s request for rescheduling the summons issued to him for questioning on November 17 here in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state, official sources said on Tuesday.

    The JMM leader had asked the ED to advance the date of appearance to November 16, which has not been agreed to by the agency, they said.

    Soren, 47, was initially summoned by the federal probe agency on November 3, but he did not depose citing official engagements.

    He had then sought a three-week deferment of the summons.

    The CM has been asked to appear at the regional office of the ED in state capital Ranchi for questioning and recording of his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

    The agency has arrested Soren’s political aide Pankaj Mishra and two others – local muscleman Bachhu Yadav and Prem Prakash – in this case.

    The agency has said it has “identified” proceeds of crime relating to illegal mining in the state to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore till now.

    After the first summons was issued, Soren had dared the agency to arrest him.

    READ HERE | Illegal mining row: Relief to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren as SC sets aside HC order

    “The ED has summoned me following a conspiracy. Come and arrest me if I have committed a crime instead of sending summonses for questioning. I am neither afraid nor worried. Rather I am emerging stronger. If people of Jharkhand wish, opponents will not find a place to hide,” he had said.

    The ED probe began after the agency raided Mishra and his alleged associates on July 8, covering 19 locations in Sahibganj, Barhait, Rajmahal, Mirza Chauki and Barharwa in Jharkhand in the case linked to alleged instances of illegal mining and extortion.

    “The PMLA investigation revealed that Mishra, who enjoys political clout, being the representative of the chief minister, MLA from Barhait, Sahibganj, Jharkhand controls the illegal mining businesses as well as inland ferry services in Sahibganj and its adjoining areas through his accomplices.

    “He exercises considerable control over the mining of stone chips and boulders as well as installation and operations of several crushers, set up across various mining sites in Sahibganj,” the ED had alleged after filing a charge sheet in the case before a special court in Ranchi.

    In the charge sheet, the ED stated that it recovered “a sealed envelope containing a passbook and two cheque books containing two signed cheques, all pertaining to A/c. in the name of Shri Hemant Soren held with Bank of India, Sahibganj”.

    Among other items seized by the ED include “one yellow color file marked as April 2019 to June 2022 having all bank details of Hemant Soren” and his family members, the agency said in the charge sheet.

    Forty-seven search operations have been conducted and cash worth Rs 5.34 crore has been seized, bank balances worth Rs 13.32 crore have been frozen, an inland water vessel worth Rs 30 crore has been seized apart from five stone crushers, two trucks and two AK 47 assault rifles (these weapons were later claimed by Jharkhand police as its own) till now, the ED said.

    Some banking documents and cheques that purportedly bore the name of the chief minister were also recovered from the searched premises, officials had said.

    The action was initiated after the ED filed a case under the PMLA against Mishra and others in March, alleging that the former “illegally grabbed or amassed huge assets in his favour”.

    It took cognisance of a state police FIR filed against Mishra at Barharwa police station in Sahibganj district and some other police complaints filed in the illegal mining trade instances under various sections of the Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act, among others.

    A second instance where cash linked to alleged illegal mining in the state was unearthed pertains to the ED action against suspended Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Pooja Singhal in May.

    Apart from the 2000-batch IAS officer, her businessman husband, a chartered accountant linked to the couple and others were raided by the ED as part of the money laundering probe linked to a case of alleged corruption in the MGNREGA scheme.

    Singhal, who was holding the charge of Jharkhand mining secretary, was suspended by the state government following her arrest by the ED.

    Suman Kumar, a chartered accountant linked to Singhal and her husband, was also arrested by the agency and cash amounting to Rs 19.76 crore was seized by it.

    RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate has not agreed to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s request for rescheduling the summons issued to him for questioning on November 17 here in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state, official sources said on Tuesday.

    The JMM leader had asked the ED to advance the date of appearance to November 16, which has not been agreed to by the agency, they said.

    Soren, 47, was initially summoned by the federal probe agency on November 3, but he did not depose citing official engagements.

    He had then sought a three-week deferment of the summons.

    The CM has been asked to appear at the regional office of the ED in state capital Ranchi for questioning and recording of his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

    The agency has arrested Soren’s political aide Pankaj Mishra and two others – local muscleman Bachhu Yadav and Prem Prakash – in this case.

    The agency has said it has “identified” proceeds of crime relating to illegal mining in the state to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore till now.

    After the first summons was issued, Soren had dared the agency to arrest him.

    READ HERE | Illegal mining row: Relief to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren as SC sets aside HC order

    “The ED has summoned me following a conspiracy. Come and arrest me if I have committed a crime instead of sending summonses for questioning. I am neither afraid nor worried. Rather I am emerging stronger. If people of Jharkhand wish, opponents will not find a place to hide,” he had said.

    The ED probe began after the agency raided Mishra and his alleged associates on July 8, covering 19 locations in Sahibganj, Barhait, Rajmahal, Mirza Chauki and Barharwa in Jharkhand in the case linked to alleged instances of illegal mining and extortion.

    “The PMLA investigation revealed that Mishra, who enjoys political clout, being the representative of the chief minister, MLA from Barhait, Sahibganj, Jharkhand controls the illegal mining businesses as well as inland ferry services in Sahibganj and its adjoining areas through his accomplices.

    “He exercises considerable control over the mining of stone chips and boulders as well as installation and operations of several crushers, set up across various mining sites in Sahibganj,” the ED had alleged after filing a charge sheet in the case before a special court in Ranchi.

    In the charge sheet, the ED stated that it recovered “a sealed envelope containing a passbook and two cheque books containing two signed cheques, all pertaining to A/c. in the name of Shri Hemant Soren held with Bank of India, Sahibganj”.

    Among other items seized by the ED include “one yellow color file marked as April 2019 to June 2022 having all bank details of Hemant Soren” and his family members, the agency said in the charge sheet.

    Forty-seven search operations have been conducted and cash worth Rs 5.34 crore has been seized, bank balances worth Rs 13.32 crore have been frozen, an inland water vessel worth Rs 30 crore has been seized apart from five stone crushers, two trucks and two AK 47 assault rifles (these weapons were later claimed by Jharkhand police as its own) till now, the ED said.

    Some banking documents and cheques that purportedly bore the name of the chief minister were also recovered from the searched premises, officials had said.

    The action was initiated after the ED filed a case under the PMLA against Mishra and others in March, alleging that the former “illegally grabbed or amassed huge assets in his favour”.

    It took cognisance of a state police FIR filed against Mishra at Barharwa police station in Sahibganj district and some other police complaints filed in the illegal mining trade instances under various sections of the Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act, among others.

    A second instance where cash linked to alleged illegal mining in the state was unearthed pertains to the ED action against suspended Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Pooja Singhal in May.

    Apart from the 2000-batch IAS officer, her businessman husband, a chartered accountant linked to the couple and others were raided by the ED as part of the money laundering probe linked to a case of alleged corruption in the MGNREGA scheme.

    Singhal, who was holding the charge of Jharkhand mining secretary, was suspended by the state government following her arrest by the ED.

    Suman Kumar, a chartered accountant linked to Singhal and her husband, was also arrested by the agency and cash amounting to Rs 19.76 crore was seized by it.

  • EC disqualification may have Soren back as CM

    Express News Service

    In what may appear to be a bizarre wish, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren is hoping that media reports on his disqualification come true and the Election Commission of India disqualifies him as a member of the current state Legislative Assembly.

    The chief minister, sources said, is afraid that the election commission may not stop at merely taking away his membership. He fears that the commission may even bar him from contesting elections for a period up to six years. Though the law says a legislator can be barred from contesting election only in the case of conviction by a court of law for more than two years, JMM leadership is bracing for all eventualities.

    In a scenario where the commission disqualifies him as an MLA, Soren would have to tender his resignation as chief minister. But no law stops him from being re-elected on the same day as the leader of the ruling alliance comprising the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal. As a leader of the ruling alliance, he may again stake claim to form the government. The governor has no option but to swear him in as chief minister.

    The state legislature has 81 seats, Soren’s JMM has 30 MLAs, its ally Congress has 18, and three seats are held by other smaller allies. Together the ruling alliance has a strength of 51. Even if the three Congress MLAs who were recently caught with unaccounted cash by the Bengal Police vote against the ruling alliance, the chief minister commands a comfortable majority.

    The chief minister has held consultations with his allies and JMM MLAs about all possible scenarios. Sources said that Hemant Soren would return as chief minister on the same day if the EC lets him off with a mere disqualification.

    The other option before the chief minister is to appeal against the EC order in a High Court. As per law, he would have eight weeks to appeal against the EC order in the High Court. If the High Court gives an adverse judgement, he would be allowed to appeal in the Supreme Court, which can decide the case as per its convenience.

    Jharkhand governor Ramesh Bais is likely to make the EC order public on Saturday and act on it as per EC’s recommendation. The governor had sought advice of the Election Commission on whether the state chief minister holding a mining license amounted to holding “an office of profit”. The allegation against the CM was made by the BJP in a letter to the governor. The party had demanded the disqualification of the chief minister under Section 9(A) of the Representation of People’s Act.

    The CM has in his defence said that the mining lease does not fall under the purview of the office of profit rules as he got a 10-year lease in 2008 when he was not chief minister. He said he had in any case applied for cancellation of the lease in the same month as it was allotted.

    After examining the allegation forwarded by the governor, the election commission has found Soren guilty of holding an office of profit.

    In what may appear to be a bizarre wish, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren is hoping that media reports on his disqualification come true and the Election Commission of India disqualifies him as a member of the current state Legislative Assembly.

    The chief minister, sources said, is afraid that the election commission may not stop at merely taking away his membership. He fears that the commission may even bar him from contesting elections for a period up to six years. Though the law says a legislator can be barred from contesting election only in the case of conviction by a court of law for more than two years, JMM leadership is bracing for all eventualities.

    In a scenario where the commission disqualifies him as an MLA, Soren would have to tender his resignation as chief minister. But no law stops him from being re-elected on the same day as the leader of the ruling alliance comprising the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal. As a leader of the ruling alliance, he may again stake claim to form the government. The governor has no option but to swear him in as chief minister.

    The state legislature has 81 seats, Soren’s JMM has 30 MLAs, its ally Congress has 18, and three seats are held by other smaller allies. Together the ruling alliance has a strength of 51. Even if the three Congress MLAs who were recently caught with unaccounted cash by the Bengal Police vote against the ruling alliance, the chief minister commands a comfortable majority.

    The chief minister has held consultations with his allies and JMM MLAs about all possible scenarios. Sources said that Hemant Soren would return as chief minister on the same day if the EC lets him off with a mere disqualification.

    The other option before the chief minister is to appeal against the EC order in a High Court. As per law, he would have eight weeks to appeal against the EC order in the High Court. If the High Court gives an adverse judgement, he would be allowed to appeal in the Supreme Court, which can decide the case as per its convenience.

    Jharkhand governor Ramesh Bais is likely to make the EC order public on Saturday and act on it as per EC’s recommendation. The governor had sought advice of the Election Commission on whether the state chief minister holding a mining license amounted to holding “an office of profit”. The allegation against the CM was made by the BJP in a letter to the governor. The party had demanded the disqualification of the chief minister under Section 9(A) of the Representation of People’s Act.

    The CM has in his defence said that the mining lease does not fall under the purview of the office of profit rules as he got a 10-year lease in 2008 when he was not chief minister. He said he had in any case applied for cancellation of the lease in the same month as it was allotted.

    After examining the allegation forwarded by the governor, the election commission has found Soren guilty of holding an office of profit.

  • ECI seeks reply over mining lease to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: After High Court, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is facing heat from the Election Commission of India (ECI) over obtaining a mining lease. In a letter to Chief Secretary Sukhdeo Singh, the poll panel has sought ‘authentication’ of the documents related to the allegations that Soren, who also holds the mining portfolio, misused his official position to get stone mining lease in Angara block of Ranchi.

    Officials confirmed receiving the letter and said they were verifying the documents sent and would respond as soon as the process is completed. A BJP delegation led by former CM Raghubar Das had in February met Governor Ramesh Bais and handed over the documents, seeking the CM’s removal.

    The governor forwarded the documents to ECI, seeking its opinion. Since, the documents were unverified; the ECI forwarded them to the state government seeking authentication before sending its opinion to the governor. Earlier, the HC had issued a notice to Soren on a PIL. Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan had told the court that the granting of lease was a “mistake” and the CM has “surrendered” it.

  • COVID-19 vaccine should be administered to PM, all state CMs first, says Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren

    Express News Service
    RANCHI: A day before the launch of COVID-19 vaccination drive in the Country, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a live TV programme, said that the vaccine should be administered to the Prime Minister and all Chief Ministers first to avert panic among the people of this country.

    “I think, vaccination must be done covering everyone for which I have been pleading before the Central Government since long. But, at the same time it has become an event management, due to which it probably has created a sense of panic among the people of this country. Therefore, the vaccine must beadministered to the Prime Minister and all Chief Ministers first, who are sitting on  the most responsible positions,” said CM Soren.

    Whatever implies to us also implies to our health workers, he added.

    Notably, Soren will personally be interacting with those who will be administered COVID-19 vaccine at Sadar Hospital in Ranchi on Saturday.