New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday summoned Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on November 3 at its Ranchi office for questioning in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state, said the officials, reported news agency PTI. The agency wants to question and record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said, the report added.
The enforcement agency had earlier arrested Soren’s political aide Pankaj Mishra and two others in connection with the case. Mishra, who is at present in judicial custody, was arrested on July 19 after the federal probe agency carried out state-wide raids in July and seized Rupees 11.88 crore from his bank accounts.
According to ABP News sources from ED, Soren is likely to be questioned over CM Soren's banking documents, cheque books and passbooks that were found at Mishra's residence during hte federal agency's raid.
The agency has said it has "identified" proceeds of crimes relating to illegal mining in the state to the tune of more than Rs 1,000 crore till now.
The ED probe began after the agency raided Mishra and his alleged associates on July 8, covering 19 locations in Sahibganj, Barhait, Rajmahal, Mirza Chauki and Barharwa in Jharkhand in the case linked to alleged instances of illegal mining and extortion.
It has been alleged that Mishra and his associates used to carry out the illegal mining case by intimidating district officials by taking the name of CM. It is also alleged that they used the Chief Minister's political clout to avoid any action being taken in the illegal mining case.