Jharkhand: JMM rejects graft charge against CM aide

RANCHI: Rejecting the corruption charges levelled by BJP MLA Babulal Marandi, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Thursday claimed all illegal activities in Santhal Pargana have stopped since the Hemant Soren government assumed office in January 2020.
"More than 900 vehicles involved in illegal mining and transportation have been seized and Rs 90 lakh has been levied as fine in Santhal Pargana till May this year.Our government is determined to halt all illegal activities in the region," JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said.
On June 1, Marandi had accused JMM of being involved in corruption, extortion and other criminal activities in the division. Marandi had pointed fingers at Pankaj Mishra, representative of chief minister Hemant Soren in the Barhait assembly constituency, and said he was actively involved in a host of illegal activities. Marandi had claimed Mishra had threatened a local BJP functionary for tweeting against the incumbent government and usurping the lands of various families in the area by force.
Bhattacharya on Thursday rejected Marandi' charges against Mishra, who also holds the post of a secretary in JMM's central committee. "Marandi sat down for a press conference on Tuesday with a few men who had criminal antecedents and a few people who made false claims," he added.