Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], November 9 (HBTV): The Income Tax department conducted raids on Saturday at the residence of Sunil Srivastava, allegedly a close aide and personal secretary of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, sources reported. The operation covers nine locations across Ranchi and Jamshedpur, with further details awaited.

The timing of the raid comes just days before assembly elections in Jharkhand, where CM Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), in alliance with the Congress, RJD, and left parties, faces strong competition from the BJP-led NDA alliance.

Earlier, in June, the Jharkhand High Court granted bail to CM Hemant Soren in connection with an alleged land scam case, following his January arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges of land scam and money laundering.

The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will hold elections in two phases on November 13 and 20, with votes counted on November 23.   

(ANI)