In Jharkhand, troubles mount for Sita Soren as ex-PA files abduction case

Indian Express

a day ago

A Dhanbad court has admitted a criminal complaint filed by Jharkhand BJP leader Sita Soren's ex-aide Devashish Manoranjan Ghosh, who has accused her of allegedly abducting, assaulting, looting, and framing him in an Arms Act case earlier this year.
Ghosh, who had been a former personal assistant (PA) to Sita Soren, has alleged that on March 6 he was taken to Dhanbad at Sita's behest under the pretext of attending a wedding there. However, he alleged, 'the plan abruptly changed en route' as he was 'diverted from Wedlock Hotel to Sonotel Hotel in Dhanbad, where the conspiracy unfolded'.
'On the evening of March 6 while I was taking rest in the hotel (Sonotel Hotel), I was asked to come out of the hotel, where nearly 15 people assaulted me, looted money from my ATM and UPI apps, and planted weapons including a pistol (desi katta) near me,' Ghosh alleged. 'They filed an FIR against me the same night at Saraidhela police station under the Arms Act and I was arrested soon afterwards. I spent 31 days in jail,' he told The Indian Express.
Ghosh claimed that 'the real reason behind Sita Soren's fallout with me was political'. He said Sita had accused him of 'aligning' with Congress leader Irfan Ansari in the Jamtara seat during the November 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections in an alleged attempt to 'sabotage' her campaign and ensure her defeat.
Fighting from Jamtara as a Congress candidate, Ansari, who is currently the Health Minister in the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government, defeated Sita who was contesting the polls on the BJP's ticket.
'She (Sita) alleged that I met Irfan Ansari to make her lose the election. That's completely baseless,' Ghosh said, pointing out that there was a 25-member BJP committee assigned to oversee her election campaign. 'If she had issues about any irregularities, the party should have investigated. But no inquiry was done. Instead, I was framed,' he added.
After his release on bail, Ghosh said he refrained from approaching the police and that he has now chosen to directly move a Dhanbad court with his complaint against Sita.
The court held its first hearing in the matter on Tuesday. Ghosh has submitted jail applications, call records, emails, and other documents as part of the evidence. While taking cognisance of his allegations against Sita and eight of her associates, Chief Judicial Magistrate Aarti Mala has admitted the case for hearing.
The elder daughter-in-law of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren, Sita, a three-time MLA from Jama (Dumka), quit the JMM to switch to the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Sita has denied the allegations levelled by Ghosh, accusing him of allegedly committing a fraud to the tune of Rs 1.5 crore during the Jharkhand poll campaign. 'He (Ghosh) forged my signature and transferred money into his own bank accounts. He even opened two to three fake accounts during the election period to siphon off funds meant for campaign expenses,' she alleged.
Sita also told The Indian Express that she had entrusted Ghosh with various responsibilities, including handling her legal payments. 'I had given him Rs 50,000 to pay a lawyer, but later found out that no such payment was made. He pocketed the money,' she alleged.
She claimed that several transactions were carried out from her account without her knowledge and that Ghosh 'failed' to disburse election-related payments on time. 'He misused his access to my financial matters and betrayed my trust,' she added.
Sita also said she has filed multiple cases against Ghosh, including one under the Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act as well as another over a bounced cheque matter. 'The evidence of his fraud is extensive and I have urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation,' she said.
Sita's husband late Durga Soren was considered a 'natural successor' to Shibu Soren. However, Durga's death in 2009 due to brain haemorrhage led to the elevation of his younger brother Hemant Soren in the JMM ranks. Apart from being the CM, Hemant is currently the JMM president too.
While quitting the JMM, Sita had alleged that she had been a victim of 'continuous neglect' and had been 'isolated by the party and family members'.
JMM insiders had then said that Sita was 'perturbed' by the growing popularity of her sister-in-law Kalpana Soren, Hemant's wife, who is now a party MLA.
Sita has also been facing a CBI case over allegations that she had taken bribes in the 2012 Rajya Sabha polls in the state. The trial has been continuing in the case in a Ranchi court. She has been currently out on bail granted by the Jharkhand High Court in 2014.
Significantly, it was Sita's plea for immunity from prosecution in this case on which the Supreme Court's Constitution Bench pronounced a landmark judgment in March 2024, overturning the apex court's 1998 verdict – in the JMM bribery case involving Shibu Soren as one of the accused – to rule that the MPs and MLAs who take bribes to vote or make a speech in the House are not immune from prosecution.