'Politically Motivated': Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Accuses ED Of 'Malice', Agrees To Jan 31 Questioning
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren accused the ED of being "motivated by political agenda" to disrupt the state government's operations.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of being "politically motivated" in its actions, alleging an attempt to disrupt the state government's functioning. Soren, in an email to the federal agency, expressed his belief that the insistence on recording his statement again by January 31 was driven by malice.
The 48-year-old JMM executive president asserted that the summons issued to him were "vexatious and a colorable exercise of powers under the statute". He requested the preservation of the video recording of the seven-hour questioning on January 20 to be made available in a court of law. Soren agreed to record his statement again on January 31 at 1 pm at his residence.
"Preserve video recording of seven-hour questioning (of January 20) to make available to the Court of Law," Soren said in the email sent on Sunday, as reported by news agency PTI.
The ED had questioned Soren on January 20 in connection with an alleged land fraud case and subsequently issued fresh summons, offering dates for questioning on January 29 or January 31.
Soren left for the national capital on January 27 night, and his scheduled government events in the state on Monday were cancelled without explanation. An ED team visited his Delhi residence today as part of a money laundering investigation.
In response, the Jharkhand unit of the BJP claimed that Soren has been "absconding" for the last 18 hours, allegedly fearing action from the ED. The party urged Governor C P Radhakrishnan to intervene, expressing concerns about the credibility and reputation of Jharkhand.
. @dir_ed के डर के मारे झारखंड के मुख्यमंत्री हेमंत सोरेन पिछले अठारह घंटे से दिल्ली वाले मुख्यमंत्री आवास से फ़रार हो कर भूमिगत हो गये हैं।
— Babulal Marandi (@yourBabulal) January 29, 2024
मीडिया सूत्रों के मुताबिक़ देर रात हेमंत जी हवाई चप्पल पहने हुए चादर से मुँह ढँककर चोर की तरह आवास से पैदल निकल कर भागे हैं। उनके साथ…
JMM countered the BJP's claims, stating that Soren had gone to Delhi for personal reasons and would return. The party deemed the ED's actions as unconstitutional and politically motivated, asserting that Soren is not connected to the case under investigation.
"The chief minister travelled to Delhi for personal reasons and will return. However, the ED action is uncalled for and unconstitutional. It appears that the move is politically motivated," JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya told PTI.
"Soren has nothing to do with the case," he stated.
While Soren's office remained tight-lipped, Governor Radhakrishnan mentioned he was monitoring the situation. Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur accused the ED of creating confusion and spreading rumours, asserting that it was a conspiracy to disrupt the state government's welfare work. The Congress is part of the ruling alliance in Jharkhand led by the JMM.
"Attempts are being made to create the impression that the President's rule will be implemented in the state. People are spreading rumours that the Chief Minister is missing," Thakur told PTI.
"Is the ED really unable to trace the CM? This is nothing but a conspiracy to disrupt the state government and prevent it from carrying out welfare work," he claimed.
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