The Enforcement Directorate has outlined a pattern of corruption and manipulation in a land scam worth Rs 600 crore, implicating former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The chargesheet identifies Hemant Soren, revenue officer Bhanu Pratap Prasad, and two other government employees as defendants.
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Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has unveiled a detailed chargesheet shedding light on a complex corruption scheme involving a Rs 600 crore land scam, with former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren among those implicated.
Alongside Soren, the chargesheet also lists revenue officer Bhanu Pratap Prasad and two additional government officials as accused parties. This investigation unfolds amid allegations surrounding an illicit network dedicated to the unauthorized modification of land ownership records in Jharkhand, a case that prompted Soren to resign from his position shortly before his apprehension.
Central to the chargesheet’s allegations is the assertion that Hemant Soren was integrally linked to a ‘land mafia’ group, benefiting from the illicit proceeds generated by this network. The chargesheet specifically references a 44-page document discovered in Bhanu Pratap Prasad’s office, which contains vital details concerning an 8.86-acre parcel of land in Ranchi’s Bargain area, purportedly owned by Soren. Prasad’s documentation reportedly identifies Soren as ‘boss’, indicating a direct relationship between the two in the context of these illegal activities.
The ED claims that since 2011, Soren had unlawfully claimed the said land, now estimated to be worth Rs 31 crores, with the complicity of associates Ranjit Singh, Hilarius Kachhap, and Rajkumar. This plot has since been confiscated by the ED as part of their ongoing investigation.
Further investigations revealed Bhanu Pratap Prasad’s involvement in a broader conspiracy to tamper with official land records, thereby enabling the appropriation of government lands through collusion with various government officials, including Soren himself. The ED’s chargesheet is supported by photographic evidence from two surveys of the property, which implicate Prasad in these unlawful acts.
Santosh Munda, identified as the property’s caretaker, has acknowledged its ownership by “Minister Ji”, a reference to Hemant Soren, while photographs extracted from the mobile phone of another accused, Binod Kumar, disclosed plans for the construction of a bank hall on the site. Despite these findings, Soren has professed ignorance about the property in question and refrained from commenting on his communications with Kumar.
The chargesheet elaborates on Prasad’s role, highlighting his directive in the illegal acquisition of the 8.86-acre land through the manipulation of governmental records. Additionally, documented financial transactions found in the diaries and messages on another accused’s phone suggest Prasad’s financial involvements.
In the course of this investigation, the ED has amassed statements from 33 witnesses and secured thousands of pages of documentary evidence. From a raid at Soren’s Delhi residence, officials seized Rs 36 lakh in cash and a BMW vehicle. To date, the ED has appropriated properties valued at Rs 256 crore, identified as being illicitly obtained by this criminal syndicate.
The case has seen the arrest of 16 individuals, including Hemant Soren and former Ranchi District Collector, IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan.
In response to these allegations, Soren has vociferously denied any wrongdoing, accusing the BJP of manipulating investigative agencies to undermine democratically elected administrations.
This case represents a significant episode in India’s ongoing struggle against corruption, highlighting the intricate web of illicit activities that can permeate the highest levels of political and bureaucratic structures.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Hemant Soren
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