The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president Hemant Soren was involved in plans to develop a banquet hall on "illegally acquired land."
A special PMLA court, on Monday, decided to extend the Enforcement Directorate's remand of Hemant Soren by an additional three days until February 15 in connection with a money laundering case associated with an alleged land scam.
In its remand application presented to the court, the investigative agency disclosed significant WhatsApp conversations between Hemant Soren and his close associate Binod Singh, which are deemed highly incriminating and outline details concerning various "illegitimate properties."
As per the Enforcement Directorate, a thorough analysis of these WhatsApp exchanges revealed a blueprint illustrating the proposed banquet hall, shared by Binod Singh with Hemant Soren on April 6, 2023.
Interestingly, the specified location in the blueprint corresponds to an 8.5-acre parcel of land currently under scrutiny for unlawful acquisition, purportedly under Soren's possession.
A survey conducted by the probe agency on February 10 confirmed the alignment between the proposed banquet site and the contested land. Officials present during the survey affirmed that no other sizable plot in the vicinity was suitable for such construction.
Upon visiting the disputed land, individuals from the local community, preferring anonymity, acknowledged Soren's ownership, while a laborer previously involved in boundary demarcation claimed ownership by another party.
"Bhanu Pratap Prasad, a revenue sub-inspector, was found to be part of a syndicate engaged in coercive property acquisition and fraudulent documentation," revealed the investigation conducted by the enforcement agency.
The probe revealed that Prasad was actively involved in scheming to unlawfully acquire properties, including collaborating with Hemant Soren. Upon seizing Prasad's mobile phone, the agency uncovered chats and data related to illicit cash transactions, unauthorized gains, and documentation indicating a list of properties, encompassing approximately 8.5 acres, linked to Soren.
By the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, a survey conducted confirmed Hemant Soren's illegal possession of the mentioned property. Concealed registers seized from Prasad unveiled a systematic pattern of unlawful property acquisition and disposal.
Moreover, the Enforcement Directorate alleged Soren's deliberate involvement in activities associated with the acquisition, possession, and utilization of proceeds derived from criminal activities.
Following his remand to five days of custody by the special PMLA court on February 7, Hemant Soren's Enforcement Directorate custody was further extended until February 15.
Upon arriving at the PMLA court, Soren acknowledged his supporters, who chanted slogans in his favor, including 'Hemant Soren Zindabad.'
The JMM leader was apprehended on January 31 after an extensive interrogation by the central agency in connection with the money laundering case. Soren tendered his resignation as Jharkhand Chief Minister before his arrest.
A search conducted at Soren's residence in Delhi led to the discovery of a substantial amount of cash, resulting in his arrest under Section 19 of the PMLA, 2002.
