ED Moves Jharkhand HC Challenging FIR Filed by Ex-CM Hemant Soren

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has moved the Jharkhand High Court, challenging the First Information Report (FIR) filed against its officials, following a complaint by former Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Soren alleged “harassment” by the investigative agency, accusing them of “maligning” his entire community.

On January 31, Hemant Soren registered a complaint against the probe agency’s officials, asserting that they attempted to ‘harass’ and ‘malign’ him and his entire community. The ED arrested Hemant Soren on the evening of January 31, after a seven-hour interrogation in connection with an alleged money laundering case.

Subsequent to his arrest, Champai Soren, a senior JMM leader, took the oath as Chief Minister on February 2.

“ED has moved the Jharkhand High Court challenging the FIR registered against its officials by former CM Hemant Soren under the SC/ST Act. The petition was filed on February 3,” officials stated. The complaint was filed at the SC ST police station in Ranchi.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) holds 29 seats, its ally Congress has 17, and the RJD and the CPI (ML) each have 1 seat in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly. With the backing of 43 MLAs, the INDIA bloc has the numbers required for a successful floor test.

Meanwhile, the two-day Assembly session is set to commence today. The Champai Soren-led coalition government in Jharkhand will seek a trust vote. The Ranchi district administration has implemented Section 144 of CrPC within a 100-meter radius of the assembly building.

As per an official order, restrictions will be enforced from Monday at 8:00 am until Tuesday at 10:00 pm. These stringent measures are part of the security arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the special session and to prevent any untoward incidents in the new Jharkhand Legislative Assembly building.