LAGATAR24 NETWORK
New Delhi, Sept 12: The CBI has informed the Lokpal that JMM Rajya Sabha MP Shibu Soren, his family members and associates have a total 82 properties located in four districts of Jharkhand besides Delhi and Ghaziabad.
The CBI in its analytical report has referred to the Income Tax returns filed by the family members besides election affidavits where property declarations were made. As per the CBI preliminary enquiry report, Shibu Soren acquired 18 properties in his name between 1992 to September 2012. However, the CBI could furnish documents of only six properties. From the CBI report it appears that Shibu Soren in the election affidavit apparently did not mention some of the properties he purchased which is a violation of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951. However, it will be too early and prejudicial to declare the CBI report as a proof of corruption.
It was revealed through the writ petition filed by Shibu Soren at the Delhi High Court where he sought a stay on the Lokpal inquiry against him. In the petition Shibu Soren annexed the CBI preliminary enquiry report also.
The JMM boss Shibu Soren got huge relief as the court of Justice Yashvant Varma of the Delhi High Court on Monday stayed the proceedings of the Lokpal against him till mid of December this year. However, the preliminary enquiry report of the CBI is set to open a can of worms particularly for Shibu Soren and Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The BJP baying for their blood may rant and rake up Jharkhand’s first political family involved in the corruption. The Lokpal was hearing a petition of BJP’s Godda MP Nishikant Dubey where he alleged Shibu Soren and his family members for accumulating unaccounted assets through corrupt means.
Nishikant Dubey furnished a list of 57 properties. He flagged all these properties as unaccounted and demanded a CBI inquiry. But as per the CBI, the total number of properties is 82. The CBI DSP Sunil Dutt in the report has said that these properties are registered in the name of Shibu Soren, his wife Rupi Soren, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, CM’s brother and MLA Basant Soren, CM’s wife Kalpana Soren, Shibu Soren’s daughter-in-law Sita Soren, his deceased son Durga Soren and others. Few other properties are under Hindu Undivided Family category and two are registered in the name of the JMM and one in the name of Dishom Guru Shibu Soren Educational and Welfare Society.
The CBI pointed out that complainant Nishikant Dubey also submitted a list of six properties registered in the name of Lakhi Kisku, Lakhi Kant Soren and Shivnath Manjhi. “However, the inquiry has not revealed any relation of Lakhi Kisku, Shivnath Manjhi and Lakhi Soren with the family of Shibu Soren. Hence, these properties may not be attributed to Shibu Soren or any of his family members at this stage,” the report states.
Shibu Soren apparently gave his reply to the CBI regarding immovable assets registered in his name. As per the CBI report Basant Soren and Sita Soren submitted their comments in this matter. But the reply from Hemant Soren was awaited and a reminder was sent to him on June 6, this year.
Referring to open sources, the CBI has said that Ravi Kejriwal, a former treasurer of the JMM was a Director at Bokaro based M/s Regent Park Hotels Private Limited. Kolkata-based businessman Amit Agarwal was also Director in this company. Amit Agarwal was also Director in M/ s Rajesh Auto Merchandise Private Limited & Tamanna Commosales Private Limited which were having financial transactions with JMM.
Hemant Soren has over two dozen properties
The CBI said that two properties were purchased in 1992 in the name of Hemant Soren when he was a minor. The complainant alleged that he is in the possession of 22 properties. The CBI has stated that Hemant Soren or his wife Kalpana Soren are interested parties in 33 properties.
The CBI has stated that its inquiry has revealed eight more properties that may be connected to Hemant Soren. “However, none of these properties have been declared by him in his affidavit before the Election Commission,” said the CBI.
