Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is directly linked with the acquisition, possession and use of proceeds of a property scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed in a remand application filed before a local court in Ranchi.In its remand note, the probe agency says that one of the main accused in the scam - Bhanu Pratap Prasad, who was a revenue sub-inspector at Baragai, Ranchi - was actively involved in hatching conspiracies with other persons to acquire properties in an illegal manner.The agency's investigation of phone call and chat records revealed that Prasad was also dealing with Soren, who illegally acquired properties falling under the former's jurisdiction.“In the said mobile phone, several chats and information related to cash transactions, illegal benefits to others in acquiring land have been identified. In addition to these, one image containing the list of landed properties illegally acquired and possessed by Hemant Soren which were situated under his jurisdiction, having total area of 8.5 acres have also been recovered,” the application further claimed.Soren has denied the allegations, saying that the plot of land at Baragai in question has been “wrongfully alleged to be owned and possessed” by him.He claimed that he learnt that the lands were “Bhuinhari land,” which cannot be sold or alienated in any manner whatsoever, and that neither he nor his family owned or possessed such land.The ED, on the other hand, alleged that Soren was “directly” involved in the process connected with acquisition, possession and the use of proceeds of crime."Soren is knowingly a party with Bhanu Pratap Prasad in the activities connected with concealment of the original records for projecting the property acquired by him in an illegal manner as an untainted property,” it said.The activity connected with the acquisition, possession and use of the proceeds of crime by projecting it as untainted property was stated to be a continuing activity.Prasad, along with a "land grabbing syndicate," had acquired and disposed several landed properties in an illegal manner and was in the middle of carrying out similar practices, the agency alleged.It also said that Prasad had concealed the registers enlisting the records of properties owned by Soren.The images of the hand written notes in respect of the above properties recovered from the mobile of Bhanu Pratap Prasad and further investigation establishes the possession of Hemant Soren and also the fact that there was an attempt to falsify the records of that register so that the property can be entered in the name of Shri Hemant Soren which was foiled by timely actions of this office," it stated.In the searches conducted at Soren’s Delhi Delhi residence, the agency claimed to have recovered over ₹36 lakh along with other documents linked to the investigation..it told the local court that it had “sufficient reasons to believe” that Soren acquired proceeds of crime and was guilty of the offence of money laundering.“Several summonses were issued to Hemant Soren for his explanation in the above matter but most of the time he did not appear deliberately which also proves that he is deliberately evading investigation,” the probe agency argued.
Soren, the agency claimed, was informed about his arrest at around 5 PM, but was “reluctant to receive the orders before he tendered his resignation from post of Chief Minister” to the Jharkhand Governor.
“He left for Governor’s House without consent and without completing the ongoing proceedings. The written grounds of arrest could be served to him at 10pm,” it added.
Seeking remand for 10 days, the agency said it wanted to examine the sources of funds and property by which proceeds of crime were acquired.
In a related development, the Supreme Court today refused any relief to Soren after he challenged his arrest in connection with the case.
TAGS: Hemant Soren Jharkhand Chief Minister Enforcement Directorate (ED) property scam Bhanu Pratap Prasad Ranchi illegal acquisition
