Soren was taken into custody on Wednesday after appearing before the ED for questioning in Ranchi. He had been evading the agency for several months and had previously failed to appear at multiple summons.
The ED is investigating Soren for his alleged involvement in the illegal mining of stone chips and coal in Jharkhand. The agency has accused him of money laundering and misusing his position as Chief Minister to benefit himself and his associates.
Soren's arrest is a major blow to his political career. He is the leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the largest party in the state's ruling coalition. His arrest is likely to trigger political instability in Jharkhand, as the JMM will have to find a new leader to replace him as Chief Minister.
Champai Soren, Hemant Soren's younger brother, is being tipped as a possible successor. However, there are other contenders for the post, including JMM general secretary Vinod Kumar Pandey.
It is still too early to say what impact Soren's arrest will have on the JMM or the political landscape in Jharkhand. However, it is clear that the state is facing a period of uncertainty.
