Jharkhand cop spied on Champai Soren: Himanta’s sensational charge in Guwahati

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 28, 2024

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a significant claim on Wednesday, stating that two officers from the Jharkhand Police’s Special Branch (SB) were allegedly detained for spying on Champai Soren during his visits to New Delhi.

Champai Soren, a prominent figure in Jharkhand politics, served as the 7th Chief Minister of the state from February 2 to July 3 after the arrest of Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a money laundering case.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Sarma claimed that Soren was under surveillance as part of activities linked to his upcoming induction into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“The detained officers admitted during questioning that they were acting under the instructions of a ‘senior person’ who holds a ‘constitutional post’ in Jharkhand,” Sarma said..

Sarma also claimed that a woman accompanied the two SB officers, suggesting that there might have been a plan to trap Champai Soren, who was reportedly preparing for his induction into the BJP. “The officers were caught taking photographs of Soren’s hotel room in New Delhi by Soren’s aides. These aides then handed the officers over to the Delhi Police. During the interrogation, it was revealed that the individuals were sub-inspectors from Jharkhand’s Special Branch, tasked with following and monitoring Soren’s movements,” Sarma said.

Sarma, who is the BJP’s co-in charge for the upcoming elections in Jharkhand, said the sub-inspectors told their interrogators that they flew to Delhi on the same flight as Soren from Kolkata and stayed in a room close to that of the Jharkhand leader at the hotel in the national capital. “They admitted that they had been following Soren for more than four months with instructions from a very senior person in Jharkhand holding a constitutional post.”

“The surveillance of Champai Soren by the Jharkhand Police is unprecedented. The government of a former chief minister was behind the spying, an act he found particularly alarming. I doubt that Soren’s phone might have been tapped as well, questioning the justification for such actions,” the Chief Minister said.

“Champai Soren is not an extremist but rather a highly respected tribal leader, Sarma said highlighting the gravity of the situation and the potential misuse of state machinery for political purposes.

Sarma criticized the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress coalition in Jharkhand, accusing them of hypocrisy and pointed out that these parties often speak about protecting the Constitution, yet they are allegedly involved in activities that undermine constitutional principles, such as the surveillance of Champai Soren.

Sarma questioned the conduct of the JMM-Congress coalition, implying that their actions are inconsistent with their public stance on upholding constitutional values. He expressed disappointment and concern over such behaviour, suggesting that it is not what is expected from parties that claim to champion constitutional protections.

This week, Champai Soren officially announced his decision to join the BJP, ending a period of suspense that had persisted for a week ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in Jharkhand. Speculation about his defection began on August 20, when Soren openly criticized the leadership of the JMM, signalling his growing discontent with the party.

Champai Soren expressed grievances over his removal from the position of Chief Minister, stating that he was treated disrespectfully when he stepped down to hand over the reins to Hemant Soren on July 3. This transition occurred after Hemant Soren’s release on bail following a five-month incarceration.

Soren, who continued to serve as a member of the Hemant Soren Cabinet, had a significant meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi late on Monday. Sarma was also present at this meeting.