Champai Soren accuses JMM-Congress government of spying, files FIR in Delhi
PTC News Desk: In a surprising development just before the Jharkhand Assembly elections, former Chief Minister and prominent tribal leader Champai Soren has accused Chief Minister Hemant Soren of the JMM-Congress alliance government of spying on him. Champai Soren has lodged an FIR in Delhi, alleging political surveillance, and two Jharkhand Special Branch officers, who were allegedly following him for the past five months, have been detained for questioning.
Detailing what he called “the biggest case of political surveillance in independent India,” BJP leader and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated, “Never before in independent India's history has a sitting Chief Minister (Hemant Soren) ordered surveillance on his own cabinet colleague. You may have heard stories about the late Assam CM ordering my surveillance, but there was no proof at the time.”
Sarma revealed that the two Jharkhand Special Branch officers were caught shadowing Champai Soren whenever he visited Delhi. These officers were reportedly arrested by Delhi police at the Taj Hotel, where they had booked a room on the same floor as Champai Soren, who had recently been in Delhi. Sarma, who facilitated Champai Soren's switch to the BJP, claimed that the detained officers admitted during interrogation that they were directed by the head of the Jharkhand Special Branch to monitor Champai Soren's movements.
Sarma further alleged that the surveillance had been ongoing for five months, involving substantial financial resources. Champai Soren, who will join the BJP on August 30 but remains Jharkhand’s Water Minister until his resignation from the JMM, filed an FIR in Delhi, and an investigation is underway. Sarma demanded a thorough probe into the matter, revealing that there are photographs of the officers and detailed information about their actions.
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The Jharkhand BJP plans to meet with the state governor to demand a formal investigation into these allegations. Sarma suggested that Champai Soren's phone might have been tapped and even hinted at attempts to set up a "honey trap." “A woman visited these officers at the Taj Hotel, and there may have been a plot to entrap Champai Soren,” Sarma alleged, accusing the JMM-Congress of violating constitutionally guaranteed privacy rights.
Sarma criticised the JMM-Congress, saying, “They claim to be protectors of the Constitution, but nothing could be further from the truth.” This statement followed Champai Soren’s recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, facilitated by Sarma, which paved the way for Champai Soren’s entry into the BJP.
The alleged spying incident occurred when Champai Soren was staying at the Taj Hotel in Delhi. According to Sarma, the two officers were caught tracking and photographing him before being handed over to the Delhi police.
- With inputs from agencies
