Jharkhand Political Crisis LIVE: Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Hemant Soren's Plea Challenging ED Arrest
Follow live updates on Hemant Soren's ED arrest and the Jharkhand political crisis here.
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Jharkhand Political Crisis LIVE Updates: After two days of political crisis following the resignation and subsequent arrest of Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Thursday, 1 February, invited Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren to form the government in the state.
The announcement by the Raj Bhawan came after roughly 24 hours of political turmoil and uncertainty with MLAs of the ruling alliance – which includes the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation – submitting a letter of support of 47 MLAs to Governor Radhakrishnan.
Key developments so far:
Hemant Soren on Wednesday night, 31 January, resigned from his post amid a probe by the ED of the land scam case, thereby plunging the state and the JMM, a Congress ally, into crisis.
He was in ED custody when he resigned as CM and was arrested soon after he tendered his resignation to Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan.
The ED is investigating an alleged multi-crore scam, wherein documents dating back to over 100 years were reportedly forged and transactions were made around it.
These developments came hours after ED officials arrived at Hemant Soren's Ranchi residence on Wednesday for questioning during the ongoing probe.
Earlier that day, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against ED officials under the SC/ST Act based on Soren's complaint.
This is reportedly the first time a sitting chief minister was taken into the ED's custody.
The parties in the Jharkhand coalition government include JMM (29 seats), Congress (17 seats), NCP (1 seat), CPI(M) (1 seat), and RJD (1 seat).
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FIR Against ED Officials
In his complaint, Soren claimed that the probe agency conducted search operations at his Delhi residence to “harass and malign him and his entire community."
On 29th January 2024, I came to learn that the abovenamed persons along with others had carried out a purported search at the said premises. This purported search was without any notice to me nor was my presence required on 29th January 2024 at New Delhi by the abovenamed persons. In fact, the abovenamed persons had required me to be present at Ranchi on 29th and 31st January 2024," Soren said.
"My family members and I have suffered and experienced immense mental, psychological and emotional harm because of the acts committed by the above named persons and unknown others who are not members of any SC or ST," he added.
CM Hemant Soren To Resign Soon
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is expected to resign soon. He has reached Raj Bhavan in Ranchi.
Champai Soren To Be the New CM
Jharkhand Minister Banna Gupta told reporters, "We have chosen Champai Soren as the leader of the Legislative Party. We came to the Raj Bhawan to request the Governor for the oath ceremony."
'CM Soren Will Resign': Congress' Rajesh Thakur
Meanwhile, Congress MLA Rajesh Thakur also confirmed that, "CM Hemant Soren has decided to resign. Champai Soren has been chosen as the new leader of the Legislative party... All the MLAs are with us..."
JMM Minister Confirms Champai As New CM
Jharkhand Minister and JMM leader Mithilesh Thakur told the media that Champai Soren will be the new CM.
"We have chosen our leader. Our CM will be Champai Soren," he said.
Hemant Soren is in ED Custody: Mahua Maji
JMM MP Mahua Maji told the media that Hemant Soren is in ED custody.
"The CM is in ED custody. The CM went to the Governor with the ED team to submit his resignation. Champai Soren will be the new Chief Minister... We have enough numbers," Maji said.
MLAs Denied Show odf Strength at Raj Bhavan
Raj Bhavan denies permission for demonstrations to JMM and Congress MLAs as Hemant Soren stepped down.
'Have Support of 47 MLAs': Jharkhand Minister
Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam told the media: "Hemant Soren has resigned from the post of CM. We have the support of 47 MLAs. We have proposed to form a new government. Champai Soren will be our new CM. We have not been given time for swearing in."
Hemant Soren Arrives At His Residence
Hemant Soren arrived at his residence after submitting his resignation as Jharkhand CM to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi.
'Those Not With Modi Will Go To Jail': Congress Chief Kharge
Taking to Twitter, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said: "The one who did not go with Modi ji will go to jail. Imposing ED against Jharkhand Chief Minister, Shri Hemant Soren and forcing him to resign is a blow to federalism. Intimidating opposition leaders by making the provisions of PMLA draconian is part of the BJP's tool kit. The BJP's work of destabilising the Opposition governments one by one as part of a conspiracy is continuing," he said.
"If democracy has to be saved from dictatorship, the BJP will have to be defeated. We will not be afraid, we will continue to fight from Parliament and from the streets," he added.
Kalpana Soren Arrives at ED Office
Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana arrives at ED office where he is kept in custody.
Hemant Soren Moves Jharkhand HC
Meanwhile, Hemant Soren has filed a writ petition in Jharkhand High Court against ED summons. The case will be taken up at 10:30 am on 1 February.
'ED, CBI, IT are BJP's Eliminate Opposition Cell': Rahul Gandhi
Reacting to CM's resignation amid ED probe, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "ED, CBI, IT etc. are no longer government agencies, now they have become BJP's 'eliminate opposition cell'. The BJP itself, steeped in corruption, is running a campaign to destroy democracy in its obsession with power."
'If I Am Asked To Quit...': Hemant Soren's Letter to MLAs
"If I am asked to quit from my post of the leader of the legislative party, the new leader will be chosen by me," read a letter by former CM Hemant Soren addressed to the MLAs of the JMM party.
"I am going to appear before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning today. If I get arrested, Champai Soren will become the leader of the legislative party," the letter, which was evidently written by Soren before his arrest, read.
Hemant Soren's letter to MLAs preempting his arrest by ED.
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
Jharkhand High Court To Hear Soren's Plea Soon
After former CM Hemant Soren has legally challenged his arrest by the ED, the Jharkhand High Court is expected to hear the matter at 10:30 am on Thursday, 1 February.
A division bench led by the acting chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court will hear the matter, according to a report by LiveLaw.
Hemant Soren Approaches Supreme Court Over Arrest
A day after he tendered his resignation as chief minister of Jharkhand, JMM chief Hemant Soren has moved the Supreme Court of India challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged multi-crore land scam case.
Soren had initially moved the Jharkhand High Court, which was scheduled to hear the matter on Thursday, 1 February. However, Soren's counsel and lawyer Kapil Sibal said that the petition before the High Court would be withdrawn, according to a report by LiveLaw.
Ex-CM Hemant Soren Arrives at PMLA Court
A day after his arrest by the ED in connection with the alleged land scam, JMM chief and former CM Hemant Soren was presented before a special PMLA court in Ranchi on Thursday afternoon, according to PTI.
JMM Leaders To Meet Governor At 5:30 pm
Jharkhand Governor gives the time of 5:30 pm to Leader of JMM legislative party, Champai Soren to meet him at the Raj Bhavan, reported ANI.
PMLA Court Reserves Order
ED has demanded 10 days remand of former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren. However, the PMLA court has reserved its order, with next hearing scheduled to take place on 2 February, reported ANI.
Meanwhile, Soren has been sent to one day judicial custosy.
Champai Soren Reaches Raj Bhavan
Leader of JMM legislative party, Champai Soren reaches Raj Bhavan to meet Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan, reported ANI.
Meeting Concludes
Champai Soren and other JMM leaders come out of the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi after meeting Jharkhand Governor.
"We have demanded that the process to start the formation of the Government should begin. He (Governor) said that the process will begin soon," Soren told reporters.
MLAs Reach Ranchi Airport
JMM-led ruling alliance MLAs reach Ranchi airport in a bus. The MLAs will be going to Hyderabad.
"We are going to the airport. You know what kind of people they are, they can do anything anytime. A total of 43 MLAs are going," Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur told ANI.
MLAs' Flight Couldn't Take Off
MLAs of the JMM-led ruling alliance in Jharkhand come out of Ranchi Airport as their flight could not take off due to low visibility.
Governor Invites Champai Soren To Form Government
After two days of political crisis following the resignation and subsequent arrest of Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Thursday, 1 February, invited Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren to form the government in the state.
Champai Soren To Take Oath as Jharkhand CM Today
JMM leader Champai Soren will be sworn in as the new chief minister of Jharkhand on Friday, 2 February, days after party chief Hemant Soren resigned and was arrested by the ED.
Additionally, Champai Soren is expected to prove the majority of the ruling alliance in the state legislative Assembly with a floor test that is required to be held within the next ten days, as per Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan's announcement.
But how much do we know about soon-to-be Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren? Read here.
'BJP Engaging in Horse Trading': Congress
"There was delay to swear-in the CM (in Jharkhand). In Bihar, one CM resigns and within 10 minutes, the new CM takes over. But in Jharkhand, the BJP is engaging in horse trading, and they want to take away MLAs from the RJD, JMM, Congress and other parties," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
SC Refuses To Interfere in Hemant Soren's ED Arrest
The Supreme Court has refused to interfere in the arrest of former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's arrest by ED in a hearing held on Friday, 2 February, according to a report by LiveLaw.
The apex court has directed the JMM chief to approach the Jharkhand High Court. The matter was heard by a special bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh, and Bela M Trivedi.