In a significant move, the Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday asked the state government to respond to a petition that calls for the initiation of a formal police investigation against Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The allegations center around purported misuse of authority in the allocation of a mine and plots in an industrial zone to members of the CM’s family.
The criminal writ application specifically demands the anti-corruption bureau to register an FIR against Chief Minister Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren, and sister-in-law Sarla Murmu. The petition outlines that the misuse of the chief ministerial office led to Soren allegedly securing a mine under his name, and sizable plots within a prime industrial area under the names of his spouse and sister-in-law.
Detailing the accusations, the petitioners argue that 11 acres of land in Chanho, on the periphery of Ranchi, were allocated unfairly to Kalpana Soren and Sarla Murmu by the Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority. Furthermore, a stone mine was purportedly allocated directly in favor of CM Soren.
