New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet alleging a massive ₹600 crore land scam involving former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The chargesheet names Hemant Soren, revenue officer Bhanu Pratap Prasad, and two other government employees as accused in the case.
Mr Soren is under investigation in connection with an alleged racket involving illegal change of land ownership by mafia elements in Jharkhand. He stepped down as Jharkhand Chief Minister just before his arrest.
The chargesheet, accessed by Media Source , reveals a web of corruption and manipulation in the land scam. Statements and documents in the case reportedly confirm that Hemant Soren was involved in the ‘land mafia’ and benefitted from the proceeds of the crime.
During the investigation, officials discovered a 44-page file in Mr Pratap’s office containing crucial information regarding an 8.86-acre land owned by Hemant Soren. The chargesheet mentions that Mr Pratap referred to Mr Soren as ‘boss’.
According to the ED, Hemant Soren illegally occupied the 8.86-acre land in the Bargain area of Ranchi since 2011. The property, now valued at ₹31 crores, has been seized by the Enforcement Directorate.
The ED’s findings suggest that the occupation of this land was facilitated by Hemant Soren’s close aides Ranjit Singh, Hilarius Kachhap, and Rajkumar.
Bhanu Pratap, as per ED’s allegations, was part of a syndicate altering government land documents to facilitate land grabs, with involvement from several government officials, including Hemant Soren.
The ED included photos of two surveys conducted on the property, implicating Bhanu Pratap among the accused. The caretaker of the property, Santosh Munda, confirmed its ownership under “Minister Ji,” referring to Hemant Soren.
Additionally, a photo retrieved from accused Binod Kumar’s mobile revealed plans for constructing a bank hall on the property. Hemant Soren, in his statement to ED, claimed ignorance regarding the property and remained silent about his chats with Binod.
Bhanu Pratap, allegedly referring to Hemant Soren as his boss, orchestrated the land grab on the 8.86 acres by manipulating government records, the agency claims.
Diaries and messages on another accused’s phone reportedly show financial transactions involving Bhanu Pratap. The ED has collected statements from 33 witnesses and seized thousands of pages of documents.
During the search at Hemant Soren’s residence in Delhi, ₹36 lakh cash and a BMW car were confiscated. The ED has now seized properties worth ₹256 crore illegally acquired by this ‘syndicate’.
In connection with this case, 16 accused have been arrested so far, including Hemant Soren and former Ranchi DC, IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan.
Mr Soren has denied the allegations against him and accused the BJP of using probe agencies to destabilize democratically elected governments.
This development marks a significant turn in the investigation into the alleged land scam involving high-profile individuals in Jharkhand. The ED’s chargesheet sheds light on the intricate web of corruption and illegal activities surrounding the acquisition of government land, implicating prominent figures in the state’s political and administrative landscape.
