The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has presented invoices for a refrigerator and a smart TV as part of the evidence supporting its claim that former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren acquired 8.86 acres of land worth more than Rs 31 crore illegally. These receipts were obtained from Ranchi-based dealers and attached to the chargesheet filed against Soren and four others.
The ED alleges that the gadgets were purchased in the name of family members of Santosh Munda, who claimed to have been a caretaker of the property owned by Hemant Soren for over a decade. The agency used Munda's statement to counter Soren's denial of any association with the land in question.
Furthermore, the ED dismissed claims by Rajkumar Pahan regarding ownership of the land, accusing him of being a frontman for Soren to maintain control over the asset. The agency pointed out that Pahan's assertion came shortly after Soren was summoned in the case, suggesting an attempt to manipulate ownership records.
The ED contends that the land, originally designated as 'Bhuinhari' property, was unlawfully acquired by Soren in 2010-11 after evicting its previous occupants. Testimony from Munda indicates Soren's involvement in activities related to the property, including visits by Soren and his wife and labor work during the construction of a boundary wall.
The agency also highlights the purchase of a refrigerator in 2017 and a smart TV in 2022 in the names of Munda's family members, further establishing their residency at the property. This evidence contradicts Pahan's claim of ownership and supports the ED's allegations against Soren.
The chargesheet, filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), names Soren, Pahan, Hilariyas Kachhap, Bhanu Pratap Prasad, and Binod Singh as accused. The ED has also attached the land in question, valued at over Rs 31.07 crore, as part of the investigation.
The case emerged during a probe into another money laundering case involving the fraudulent acquisition of a 4.55-acre land belonging to the defense ministry in Ranchi. The ED alleges the involvement of private individuals and government officials in a syndicate responsible for fraudulent land acquisitions through corrupt practices.
