"Hemant Soren is one of the crucial members of the INDIA bloc," says Jharkhand Congress president

New Delhi [India], June 29 : A day after the release of former Jharkhand chief minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren, Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur said on Saturday that Hemant Soren is one of the key members of the INDIA bloc and that we will fight against the centre controlling the functioning of the central agencies.
"Hemant Soren is one of the crucial members of the INDIA bloc. There was a conspiracy to trap him. The court has clarified how cases have been filed against him and how he has been harassed. To be honest, we have become aware of the truth about ED's activities," said Rajesh Thakur.
"There is a long fight we need to fight against how the centre-led by Prime minister narendra Modi has been controlling the functionings of these central agencies. Also, we are looking forward to meeting Hemant Soren to strategise on how the last person in the queue gets benefitted and how to again work on the creation of employment opportunities," he added further.
Notably, Hemant Soren, who had been facing a probe in an alleged land scam case, walked out of the Birsa Munda Jail following a bail order from the Jharkhand High Court on Friday.
JMM leaders gathered outside the Birsa Munda Jail to catch a glimpse of the tribal leader, who was arrested by the ED in January on charges related to an alleged land scam and money laundering.
The investigation in the case concerns the purported generation of substantial proceeds through the forgery of official records, involving fake sellers and buyers to acquire large parcels of land worth crores.
In related events, on March 22, a Special PMLA court extended Soren's judicial custody until April 4.
Soren was presented via video conferencing. The Ranchi police had also issued a notice to ED officials to join the investigation following an FIR filed by Soren under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The Jharkhand High Court had previously ordered no coercive action against ED officials after the agency filed a petition challenging Soren's FIR. Soren had alleged that the ED's searches at his residences were aimed at tarnishing his image and harassing him for being a tribal.
The ED claimed to have recovered Rs 36 lakh in cash and documents related to the investigation, alleging that Soren had acquired 8.5 acres of land through fraudulent means. The investigation revealed that a syndicate, including Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad, was involved in corrupt property acquisitions.
Soren's petition to attend the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly's budget session was dismissed by the High Court on February 29.
He had resigned as Chief Minister following his arrest in the money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.