Chats, Images on Land Scam Co-Accused's Phone Did Hemant Soren In? ED Banks on Proof to Corner Ex-CM

The seized phone of Bhanu Pratap Prasad, an accused in the Jharkhand land scam, has emerged as the key evidence against former chief minister Hemant Soren who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Prasad, the former Revenue Sub-Inspector of Circle Office, Baragai, Ranchi, was allegedly part of a syndicate that forcefully acquired properties. His mobile phone, as per the agency, has thrown up pictures of land records directly implicating Soren.

“One image containing the list of landed properties illegally acquired and possessed by Shri Hemant Soren which were situated under his jurisdiction, having total area of 8.5 acres (approximately) have also been recovered (from the phone of Bhanu Pratap Prasad),” ED told the court while seeking Soren’s custody. The agency claims that Soren’s then CMO instructed Prasad to carry out physical verification of the land plots.

Soren has denied the charge and called ED’s case “political” but the agency claims it has seized several chats from Prasad’s phone which implicate Soren.

“During searches, the mobile phone of Bhanu Pratap Prasad was seized and its data was extracted in his presence while being in custody. In the said mobile phone, several chats and information related to cash transactions, illegal benefits to others in acquiring land was recovered,” ED told the court.

Prasad, as per ED officials, acquired property for many, including the former Jharkhand chief minister. Officials claim his statement and his mobile phone are crucial evidence in this regard.

The ED has also linked Soren directly to the cash recovered from his South Delhi residence. Officials said Rs 36, 34,500 was seized from the cupboard of the room which was being used by Soren.

The agency wants to confront Soren with other documents linked to the land scam, which were recovered from the same premises.