Head of India’s Jharkhand state arrested amid graft probe

India’s financial crimes agency arrested the chief minister of resource-rich eastern Jharkhand state late on Wednesday as part of an investigation into money laundering and alleged land fraud.
According to the media reports, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) seized cash, a car and “incriminating documents” from Hemant Soren’s home.
Soren resigned on Wednesday shortly before his arrest, his party the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) said, adding that he had not committed any wrongdoing.
In a post on social media platform X, Soren said he did not own the seized vehicle or “any illicit cash”, adding that he would launch an investigation into the ED.
Soren will be replaced as chief minister by JMM Vice President Champai Soren, who was also a cabinet minister in the state, party spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said. Both men are not related.