Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate this evening, minutes after quitting the post. Transport minister Champai Soren, one of the veteran leaders of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, will step into his shoes. Later in the evening, Mr Soren was formally arrested after being taken to the ED office.

Hemant Soren was taken into custody in connection with an alleged land scam, minutes after meeting the governor and handing in his resignation.

Sources said he had discussed the matter with the officials, declaring that he would sign the arrest memo only after stepping down. The ED Officials then took him to meet the Governor. A Chief Minister can be arrested under the anti-money laundering rules if he evades summons thrice.

Mr Soren, after evading the Enforcement Directorate over the weekend, had agreed to be questioned by the Central agency this afternoon. His statement was recorded during theb questioning.

Mr Soren, who had evaded seven summons for questioning in an alleged money laundering case linked to the Rs 600 crore land scam, was anticipating arrest for a while.  Yesterday, he held a meeting with MLAs of the ruling alliance where the question of his successor was discussed.

Initially, it was expected to be his wife, Kalpana Soren. But given the proximity of the state elections — due in November — the party had to drop the idea.

By-elections cannot be held in the last year of any state assembly’s term and so, Kalpana Soren could not have been elected an MLA even if she was named the Chief Minister.

The land scam involves a “huge racket” to change of ownership of government land and selling it to builders, the agency has alleged. So far, 14 people have been  arrested in the case, including 2011-batch IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan who served as the director of the state Social Welfare Department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi.

Mr Soren has claimed that he is the target of a huge conspiracy.
“The BJP conspiracy against him has succeeded for a while. But our government has majority and will continue,” said state minster Mithilesh Thakur.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s highly-anticipated series Heeramandi is all set to release soon. While not much is known about the star-studded project, the makers have teased the first look. 

February brings an exciting wave of entertainment for enthusiasts, heralding the arrival of numerous eagerly anticipated Bollywood films on both OTT platforms and in theatres. This month, audiences can anticipate the unique love tale of Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, we’ll also see Bhumi Pednekar as an investigative journalist in OTT flim Bhakshak and an intriguing pan-India bilingual film Operation Valentine, featuring Manushi Chhillar and Varun Tej.

Here are some of the Hindi films releasing this February:

Section 108

Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Regina Cassandra

Scheduled for release on February 9, this crime thriller stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Regina Cassandra. The story revolves around lawyer Tahoor Khan, who becomes involved in a curious case after a young woman seeks his help. She anticipates the death of a billionaire and the financial challenges it may bring to her firm.

Release Date: February 2
Where to Watch: Theatres

Bhakshak

Cast: Bhumi Pednekar, Sanjay Mishra, Aditya Srivastava and Sai Tamhankar

Bhakshak stars Bhumi Pednekar as an investigative journalist who delves into a string of sexual assaults at a child shelter home. Directed by Pulkit, the film includes a notable cast featuring Sanjay Mishra, Aditya Srivastava, and Sai Tamhankar in pivotal roles. The movie is scheduled for a direct premiere on Netflix on February 9.

Release Date: February 9.
Where to Watch: OTT

Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya

Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Dimple Kapadia, Dharmendra

Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya unfolds as an upcoming science fiction romantic comedy featuring Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon. Produced under Maddock Films and Jio Studios, this cinematic creation is the brainchild of debut directors Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sah.

The storyline takes an unexpected twist when Aryan encounters SIFRA, a young woman, and the two find themselves entangled in a love story. Aryan’s decision to introduce SIFRA to his family unravels a complex situation as he discovers that SIFRA is not an ordinary woman but a humanoid android robot.

Release Date: February 9
Where to Watch: Theatres

Mirg

Cast: Satish Kaushik, Anup Soni, Shwetaabh Singh, Raj Babbar

Mirg serves as the final film of the late actor-director Satish Kaushik, who tragically passed away in March last year due to a cardiac arrest. Alongside Kaushik, the movie features Anup Soni, Shwetaabh Singh, and Raj Babbar in significant roles. Directed by Tarun Sharma and produced by Rishi Anand, Shwetaabh Singh, and Tarun Sharma, the film is slated for a theatrical release on February 9.

Release Date: February 9
Where to Watch: Theatres

Operation Valentine

Cast: Varun Tej, Manushi Chhillar, Navdeep, Mir Sarwar

Operation Valentine unfolds as an intriguing historical action thriller under the directorial debut of Shakti Pratap Singh Hada. Produced by Sony Pictures and Sandeep Mudda, with co-production by God Bless Entertainment and Nandkumar Abbineni, this cinematic spectacle is being crafted simultaneously in Telugu and Hindi. The cast features stellar performances by Varun Tej, Manushi Chhillar, Navdeep, and Mir Sarwar, adding an extra layer of intensity to the narrative.

Release Date: February 16
Where to Watch: Theatres

Aakhir Palaayan Kab Tak..?

Cast: Rajesh Sharma, Bhushan Pattiyal, Gaurav Sharma, Chittaranjan Giri, Dheerendra Dwivedi, Sohani Kumari, Saurabh Agnihotri

Aakhir Palaayan Kab Tak..? promises to engage audiences with its thought-provoking exploration of migration. The recently released teaser, unveiled on January 25, provides a gripping sneak peek into the film’s universe.

This Hindi murder mystery intricately explores the intersections of politics and religion, weaving a compelling narrative that reportedly draws inspiration from real-life incidents.

Release Date: February 16
Where to Watch: Theatres

Article 370

Cast: Yami Gautam, Priya Mani, Arun Govil, Vaibhav Tatwawadi, Skand Thakur, Ashwini Koul, Kiran Karmarkar, Divya Seth Shah, Raj Zutshi, Sumit Kaul, Raj Arjun, Asit Gopinath Redij, Ashwani Kumar, Irawati Harshe Mayadev.

Yami Gautam takes on the lead role in the upcoming film Article 370, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, scheduled for a theatrical release on February 23.

In the movie, Yami’s character strongly declares, “Terrorism is a business in Kashmir. It has nothing to do with freedom but everything to do with money,” underscoring the significance of abolishing Article 370’s special status to combat corruption. The narrative draws inspiration from the Government of India’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 6, 2019, resulting in the division into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Release Date: February 23
Where to Watch: Theatres

Crakk

Cast: Vidyut Jammwal, Nora Fatehi, Amy Jackson, Arjun Rampal.

Crakk – Jeethegaa Toh Jiyegaa! is a highly anticipated 2024 sports action film directed by Aditya Datt and produced by Vidyut Jammwal under Action Hero Films. This groundbreaking movie features an ensemble cast including Vidyut Jammwal, Nora Fatehi, Amy Jackson, and Arjun Rampal. Notably, it is hailed as India’s first-ever extreme sports action film.

The story revolves around a Mumbai-based slum dweller who embarks on a perilous journey into the underground world of extreme sports. In this high-stakes arena, only victory can ensure the participants’ survival, setting the stage for a thrilling and adrenaline-fueled cinematic experience.

Release Date: February 23
Where to Watch: Theatres