Jharkhand BJP leader Babulal Marandi addresses a press conference. File

| Photo Credit: PTI

Jharkhand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi on Monday (September 22, 2025) said those “looting” the State were carrying out illegal activities at the behest of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and “illegal” Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Gupta.On ‘X’, Mr. Marandi alleged that Rajesh Ram, currently out on bail and wanted by the Ramgarh police, had been frequently visiting the DGP’s office, but the police never arrested him.“When Rajesh Ram was arrested for the first time, Inspector Ganesh Singh spoke with the Bhurkunda police station in-charge. This person Ganesh enjoys the blessings of the illegal DGP, or rather, is a key member of the illegal DGP’s team of “illegal resource collectors,” Mr. Marandi alleged.The BJP leader claimed that according to a viral audio, Ranjit Rana, a constable posted at the police headquarters and considered close to the DGP, attempted to contact the same Odisha businessman from whom Rajesh Ram allegedly extorted ₹65 lakh.Mr. Marandi said it might seem like a film script to everyone, but it was “the truth”.“Rajesh, Ganesh, Rana, Deepak and many other masterminds are merely actors in this grand loot and they are carrying out their respective illegal activities at the behest of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the illegal DGP,” Mr. Marandi claimed.He asked Mr. Soren how much share he had got from the illegal extortions.The former Chief Minister of Jharkhand claimed that the wealthy mafias from Chhattisgarh to NCR Delhi, who were granted bail by failing to file timely chargesheet in the liquor scam, were rumoured to have embezzled over ₹100 crore.The BJP leader asserted that earlier also Mr. Soren remained silent when he had brought out few names involved in such activities.He warned the Jharkhand Chief Minister and said, “Write it down somewhere. It may take some time, but sooner or later you will be caught and punished for these massive scams. Look at Lalu Prasad. It may have taken 20 years, but he was punished. If you are planting an acacia tree, the thorns will prick you.” Published - September 22, 2025 07:27 pm IST