Hemant bought Bariatu land in some other name, claims BJP; fake news, says JMM

Ranchi: Launching a fresh attack on former chief minsiter (CM) Hemant Soren and JMM-led govt here, state BJP president Babulal Marandi on Tuesday claimed that he (Hemant) illegally bought 8.5 acres of land in Bariatu under someone else’s name.
Marandi’s fresh claim came a day after Hemant challenged BJP during the two-day special assembly session on Monday during Champai Soren govt’s floor test that he will not only quit politics but also leave Jharkhand if the saffron camp can provide an iota of evidence of the said land under his name.Hemant is under the remand of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) following his arrest in a case related to this land, leading to his resignation.
Marandi also showed a video clipping of one Santosh Munda, claiming him as the watchman of the said plot in Bariatu, in which he was heard saying that the land belongs to Hemant Soren.
Marandi, a former CM, said, “This is Hemant’s way of investing money in land to hide black money under someone else’s names. This is why ED is also probing a case of money laundering against him. Otherwise, it would have been investigated under the sections of disproportionate assets.”
Marandi added that on August 7, 2023, when the ED first summoned Hemant to appear on August 14, he skipped it sensing ED action.
“Then, he began to clear his names from land records. The Soren family has bought chunks of land even after changing the name. For example, Hemant Soren becomes Hemant Kumar Soren, Shibu Soren became Shiv Soren etc. We have been demanding a probe into 108 properties of the Soren family which were brought through illegal means,” he said.
Reacting to it, JMM in a statement said after Hemant said he would submit evidence in the assembly, BJP is now weaving a new story. “Marandiji and his party should have submitted those evidences in the assembly to counter Hemantji rather than propagating fake news outside it through press conferences at party office. BJP is now aware that it is losing the plot,” it read.