Ranchi/IBNS: In a much similar scenario to what had happened in Bihar in 1997, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana Soren may assume the top post if the former is arrested in a money laundering case, media reports said.

As per several media reports quoting the sources in the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Kalpana, who has no political experience, may become the Chief Minister if Hemant is arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which will question him on Wednesday.

Days after the ED couldn't get his whereabouts for questioning, Hemant on Tuesday made his surprise appearance in Ranchi, where he met the ruling coalition MLAs for a meeting.

Interestingly, Kalpana was also present in the meeting.

Who is Kalpana Soren?

Forty-eight-year old Kalpana, who is from Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, got married to Hemant in 2006.

The couple have two children, Nikhil and Ansh.

Kalpana, who studied engineering, runs a school and is also involved in charity.

Since she is not an MLA, Kalpana, if assumes the Chief Minister's post, will have to get elected from any assembly constituency through a by-election within six months after assuming the charge.

Will Kalpana become Rabri Devi of Bihar?

In 1997, then Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's wife Rabri Devi, who was also devoid of any political experience, assumed the top post after the former was forced to resign following an arrest warrant issued against him.

Lalu was arrested in the fodder scam cases, where he has been sentenced to jail.

Rabri Devi went on to rule till 2005.

Hemant Soren goes 'missing'

The ED last Friday conducted a raid at Soren's Delhi residence and seized some documents and his BMW car.

Soren was not at home during the search operations.

As per reports, Soren travelled from Ranchi to Delhi in a chartered plane, which was parked at the city Airport.

However, the officials, who wanted to record Soren's statement, were left in the dark on his whereabouts.

So far, the Chief Minister has evaded seven summons for questioning and reports said he is preparing to challenge the ED's summons in court.

The investigating team visited Jharkhand Bhawan and his father's residence at Motilal Nehru Marg. But Soren could not be found there either.

A note from the Chief Minister's Office, however, reached the ED, informing them that they could interrogate him at 1 pm on Jan 31 -- the last day of the time allotted to him -- at his home in Ranchi.

Soren has claimed that he is being targeted as a part of a huge conspiracy.

"A conspiracy was hatched against me, but the final nail in the coffin of the conspirators will be put by us... We will not be scared, your leader will face the bullets first and keep your morale high," Soren had told the workers of his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

The case involves "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, as per the central agency.