Why Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s arrest is imminent

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who, according to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had been "untraceable" since Monday midnight, arrived in Ranchi on Tuesday. Soren is on the verge of facing arrest by the probe agency in an alleged land scam case, sources have told India Today TV.

The ED, in its investigation into at least three money laundering cases, has allegedly amassed compelling evidence against Soren, implicating him in a land scam, illegal mining, and coal mining in the state.

Top sources within the Enforcement Directorate revealed to India Today TV that the evidence collected during the probe is substantial enough to warrant Soren's arrest. Apart from the land scam, the ED claims to have found links between Soren and illegal mining activities in Jharkhand.

Statements recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act reportedly implicate individuals who have named Soren and people close to him, including high-ranking officials in the state.

The ED, sources say, also has documentary evidence to link Soren with benami properties bought using proceeds of crime.

A team from the ED arrived at the official residence of Soren in Delhi on Monday in connection with a money laundering case related to an alleged land scam. However, Soren was not present at his residence and had reportedly left for an undisclosed location late at night, as per sources within the ED.

The ED team, commencing their search at 7 am, is reportedly trying to determine Soren's current location. The searches at his Delhi residence were initiated based on fresh inputs related to the land scam, according to the ED.

Despite being summoned by the ED ten times, Soren has skipped the summonses on each occasion barring once when he agreed to be questioned at his residence. He has now been asked to confirm his availability for questioning on January 31.

The ED has made it clear that if Soren fails to appear on either date, they will take further action to reach out to him.

While Soren had initially consented to being questioned on January 31, sources close to the Jharkhand Chief Minister's Office stated that he is exploring legal options.

On Sunday, Soren allegedly met with an advocate in Delhi and it is anticipated that he may approach the court to seek protection against coercive action, though his last two such petitions were rejected by courts.

During the searches at Soren's Delhi residence, the ED, following due procedure, recorded statements. However, since the Chief Minister was not present, his statement could not be recorded.

Late on Monday, the ED seized two BMWs, incriminating documents, and Rs 36 lakh in cash during searches at Soren's official residence in Delhi, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation.