A belligerent former Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM boss Hemant Soren today assailed his BJP rival that he would not only quit politics but would leave Jharkhand also if the BJP shows evidence that he grabbed land in Ranchi.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 29 raided his New Delhi residence in connection with the Ranchi land scam case and arrested him on January 31st in Ranchi following his questioning.
However, documents submitted by Hemant Soren before the special PMLA court in Ranchi on February 1 to challenge his arrest raise some doubts.
Hemant Soren claimed that he neither grabbed nor occupied the said land and the same is under the possession of its original owners, hence, the entire exercise against him was ill-motivated and illegal.
In support of his claim, he is learnt to have submitted two documents, one is the petition of original owners seeking restoration of their right over the land, and the second action taken by the department thereupon.
But as far as the timing of the actions is concerned, the documents submitted in defence raise curiosity compelling one to wonder whether or not Hemant Soren was linked with an alleged grab of a parcel of 8.5 acres of prime land in Ranchi.
Notably, in this case, the ED issued Hemant Soren the first summons on August 14 last year directing him to appear before the ED for questioning. Hemant Soren ignored that summon. Strangely, two days later, on August 16 last year, the so-called original owners of land submitted a petition before the Land & Revenue department. Claiming ownership of the land they demanded restoration of ownership. Hemant Soren who was the Chief Minister at that time also held the Land & Revenue Department.
Strangely when the ED on January 29th raided New Delhi premises of Hemant Soren, the Land & Revenue quickly cancelled Jamabandi and restored ownership of the land to its respective owners.
As per the report, there was a dispute between two extended tribal families over the ownership of this land. Later on, they sold it to non-tribal buyers against provisions of the CNT Land Tenancy Act. It is alleged that taking benefit out of the dispute, Hemant Soren grabbed the land and took it under his physical possession.
The ED which secured five days remand of Hemant Soren said that a revenue official Bhanu Pratap Prasad was actively involved in hatching conspiracies with other persons to acquire properties illegally for Hemant Soren.
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