Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Summoned Again by ED in Money Laundering Case

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been summoned again by the Enforcement Directorate to record his statement in a money laundering case. The ED had earlier recorded his statement on January 20.

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Ranchi, January 22: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a fresh summons to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, asking him to record his statement once more in a money laundering case. The central agency had previously recorded his statement on January 20 at his official residence, where he was questioned for approximately seven hours under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

ED to Visit Soren's Residence Again

According to official sources, Soren has been asked to join the investigation again between January 27 and 31. An ED team will visit his residence, similar to the last time, to complete the recording of his statement, which remained unfinished during the previous session.

25-30 Questions Posed to Soren

During the last round of questioning, the ED reportedly posed around 25-30 questions to Soren regarding alleged instances of illegal land deals linked to the money laundering case. Following the ED officials' departure, the chief minister had expressed his belief that a conspiracy had been hatched against him.

Soren Skipped Seven Summonses Earlier

Soren, who is also the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), had initially skipped seven summonses issued by the ED. However, he finally agreed to be questioned when the eighth summons was sent.

Investigation into Illegal Land Deals

The ED is investigating a large-scale racket involving the illegal change of land ownership by a mafia group in Jharkhand. So far, the agency has arrested 14 individuals in connection with the case, including 2011-batch IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan, who served as the director of the state's social welfare department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi.

The ED's ongoing investigation into the money laundering case linked to illegal land deals in Jharkhand continues to unfold, with Chief Minister Hemant Soren's fresh summons adding another chapter to the saga.