ED Probes Mafia’s Grab of 1,800 Acres of Tribal Land in Jharkhand Scam

The ED has discovered that mafia groups grabbed 1,800 acres of non-saleable tribal land in Jharkhand using fabricated records, with the proceeds of crime estimated at ₹3,000 crore. This scam, which involves the falsification of land deeds dating back to 1932, led to the arrest of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, among others. The investigation continues as more complaints of land grabbing are being verified.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigating a large-scale land scam in Jharkhand has uncovered that 1,800 acres of tribal land, protected under the Chota Nagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act, were illegally grabbed by mafia groups. According to sources familiar with the investigation, these land parcels, deemed non-saleable, were acquired through fabricated documents, false identities, and fraudulent land records, with a total estimated proceeds of crime reaching ₹3,000 crore. The land grabbing involved manipulation of records at circle offices and the registrar of assurances (RoA) in Kolkata and Jharkhand.

This scam led to the arrest of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who was detained by the ED earlier this year but later released. Along with Soren, at least 25 individuals, including bureaucrats and middlemen, have been apprehended. The ED's probe has revealed that Soren allegedly acquired 8.86 acres of land in Ranchi, valued at ₹31 crore, despite dismissing these accusations.

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The case hinges on mafia members using fake stamps and seals to create backdated deeds for the targeted properties. These fake documents were then inserted into original registers, allowing the mafia to illegally transfer ownership and sell the land. The ED is currently verifying numerous complaints as the investigation continues.