Champai Soren, the chief minister of Jharkhand raised question regarding the ED’s actions in the Jharkhand state assembly. He claimed that Bhanu Pratap Sahi, a member of the same house, was forced to resign from office because of Rs 5 lakh. Bhanu Pratap Shahi, whose seven crore rupees were seized by the ED. However, upon his arrival at the BJP, ED freed him.
Bhanu Pratap Sahi the siting member of Legislative assembly in Jharkhand government was also present during the state assembly session when Champai Soren openly attacked the BJP government.
But, Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED even though the account books were nowhere to be found. “There will be a lot of names if we take names. It is our culture, though. We must assert our rights unceasingly.” said the new chief minister of Jharkhand, Champai Soren. The BJP accused them because they would not stand with NDA alliance and rather would stand with INDIA alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024.
While speaking in the Jharkhand vidhan sabha, Champai Soren also mentioned Democracy is in danger when one party abuses the ED, CBI, and income tax. He urged not to alter the Ambedkar and Jaipal Singh Munda-created Constitution. Champai Soren looked to the house for support.
History of Bhanu Pratap Sahi
Between 2005 and 2009, Bhanu Pratap Shahi was a cabinet minister and MLA in Jharkhand. It is alleged that he laundered money through various companies he controlled and with the assistance of his relatives. Shahi is suspected of obtaining Rs 7.97 crore in illicit proceeds, which he presented as untainted properties consisting of both immovable and mobile homes.
The ED and the CBI had claimed that Shahi, a cabinet minister for labor and health in Chief Minister Madhu Koda’s cabinet, had misused his official position to generate illicit assets between 2005 and 2009, according to news agency PTI.
Based on a formal complaint filed on July 2, 2009, the ED opened an investigation against Madhu Koda, the former chief minister of Jharkhand, and other individuals for offenses that were punishable by the Prevention of Corruption Act and several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
News of Bhanu Pratap joining BJP
Four opposition MLAs in the Jharkhand Assembly—two from the Congress, one from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and one independent MLA joined the BJP. At the party office, Chief Minister Raghubar Das was present as Sukhdeo Bhagat and Manoj Yadav of the Congress, Kunal Sarangi of the JMM, and Independent MLA Bhanu Pratap Sahi joined the BJP.