Enforcement Directorate seeks extra security ahead of Hemant Soren's questioning

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The ED has written to the Jharkhand government, seeking extra security during the questioning of Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a land fraud case. Security has been tightened around his residence in Ranchi.

ED team will interrogate Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 31, 2024 13:50 IST

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has written to the Jharkhand government, seeking extra security during the questioning of Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a land fraud case. The probe agency made this demand in anticipation of possible law and order issues during Soren's questioning.

ED officers are scheduled to visit Soren's official residence in Ranchi around 1 pm to record his statement in a money laundering case linked to the land fraud case.

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Soren will be questioned as part of a probe into a "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, according to the probe agency.

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According to sources, Soren met his father and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supremo Shibu Soren and took his blessings ahead of the ED's questioning. Soren had informed the central agency that he would be available on Wednesday for questioning.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been imposed in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand. A three-member team has been formed to oversee the law and order situation in the city. Over 7,000 police personnel have been deployed with a special focus on "strategic locations", police said.
A probe agency team has left for the Chief Minister's official residence. According to sources, the team travelled in an Innova car and carried more than 10 helmets amid strict security measures.
Legislators from the ruling JMM-led alliance, which comprises the Congress and the RJD, signed a letter of support on Tuesday evening without including any names. This came amid speculation of Soren's wife Kalpana Soren taking over the reins in the event of her husband being arrested. Although not a legislator herself, Kalpana Soren attended the meetings of the lawmakers on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, legislators of the ruling JMM-led coalition assembled at Soren's official residence in Ranchi. State Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh told news agency PTI that all the MLAs stood solidly behind the Chief Minister.
The ED questioned Soren on January 20, and later issued a tenth summons, asking him to confirm his availability for questioning on either January 29 or January 31. In an email to the ED on Sunday, Soren had alleged that its actions were "motivated by political agenda" to disrupt the state government's functioning.