News Brief
Hemant Soren Missing? ED Seizes BMW, Cash In Raid On Jharkhand CM's Delhi Residence, 'Has No Info' About His Whereabouts
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
In a dramatic turn of events, Chief Minister Hemant Soren is reportedly "missing" for the past 24 hours as Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials seek to question him in a money laundering case.
As per reports by NDTV, the ED claims to have no information on his whereabouts.
According to ED sources, the Chief Minister left his Delhi residence late on Sunday (28 January) night, and his chartered plane that he used for travel from Ranchi to Delhi, is parked at the Delhi airport.
Meanwhile, ED officials have seized his BMW car and Rs 36 lakh in cash from his Delhi residence, and despite questioning his driver and visiting his homes in Delhi and Jharkhand Bhavan, they have been unable to locate him.
The BJP's Jharkhand unit alleged that the Chief Minister is "absconding" and urged the Governor to take note.
In response, Governor CP Radhakrishnan stated that he is "keeping a watch on the overall situation."
Countering the allegations JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said, "The CM went to Delhi for some personal work and he will be back. But, the ED action is uncalled for and unconstitutional. It seems that the move is politically motivated".
As the situation unfolds, all MLAs of the ruling alliance have been instructed to remain in Jharkhand for a meeting on Tuesday (30 January), where they will discuss the future course of action.
Earlier, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren had been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to appear either on 29 January or 31 January in an alleged land scam case.
As the situation unfolds, Section 144 CrPc has been imposed within a 100-meter radius of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's residence, Raj Bhavan, and the ED office in Ranchi.
News agency PTI reported that Soren has agreed to provide his statement to the ED on 31 January.
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