Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren 'missing' from Delhi house since ED raid in land scam case

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. (File photo)

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has reportedly gone missing after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched actions against him in connection with a land fraud case on January 29.

The central investigative agency has sought the help of Delhi Police in locating Soren, as its attempts to find him at his house in Delhi have proven unsuccessful.

“According to media sources, late at night, Hemantji, wearing slippers and covering his face with a sheet, ran away from his Delhi residence on foot. Ajay Singh, the security personnel of the special branch who went with him to Delhi, is also missing," state BJP president Babulal Marandi wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

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The ED carried out raids at three locations, including Soren's house in Shanti Niketan, Delhi, on January 29. The search continued late into the night, yet failed to reveal any trace of the Jharkhand CM. However, upon the ED team's departure, a notable development unfolded as they seized his BMW, registered under a Haryana licence plate, adding a significant dimension to the ongoing probe.

According to several media reports, Soren departed from his house in Delhi at approximately 2:30pm on January 29, accompanied by one of his security personnel. Both their mobile phones are currently switched off. The ED discovered that Soren unexpectedly cancelled his chartered flight to Ranchi, which was scheduled for 6pm. In response, the probe agency has urged heightened vigilance at Delhi's borders. Authorities have expanded the search to neighboring states, marking what is arguably the first-ever manhunt for a sitting CM.

Also Read | ED issues fresh summons to Jharkhand CM Soren for questioning in money laundering case

Soren's party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, issued a statement refuting claims of his "absconding". The party asserted that Soren willingly committed to meeting the investigative team on January 31, concurrently labelling the ongoing inquiry as a "political witch hunt".

It has been reported that Soren later in the evening sent an email to the ED, indicating his readiness to engage in a session with the agency at 1pm on January 31 at his official residence in Ranchi.

Soren had left Ranchi for Delhi on January 27. His party stated on January 29 that he had gone for personal matters and was expected to return shortly. However, the Jharkhand unit of the BJP claimed that the CM has been "absconding" for the last 18 hours, fearing action from the ED.

The agency previously questioned Soren at his official residence in Ranchi on January 20 in connection with the case. Later, the ED issued a fresh summons to him, asking him to confirm his availability for questioning on either January 29 or January 31.

(With inputs from agencies)