Hemant Soren Ready To Join ED Probe After Multiple Summons In Mining Case: Report

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren has agreed to join the ED probe in land scam case after skipping multiple summons.

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren agrees to join ED probe in mining case

Source : PTI

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has agreed to join the probe by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the land scam case, reported ANI on Tuesday. Responding to the agency 8th summon, the CM has written to ED saying that it could record its statement at his official residence on January 20.  

As Soren, who is facing charges in the land scam case in Ranchi, did not respond to seventh and last summon by the enforcement agency till the deadline of December 31, 2023, the ED could seek a warrant from the court for his arrest, citing non-cooperation in the probe. 

Following the development, specualtions were rife that Soren might resign as CM and his wife Kalpana Soren's name cropped up in political corridors of the state on the possibility of taking charge as the new CM.

On January 6, the ED summoned Soren's press adviser Abhishek Prasad and Sahibganj Deputy Commissioner Ram Niwas Yadav for questioning in a money laundering investigation linked to alleged illegal mining in the state.

Last month, the ED issued seventh summons to Soren under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and asked him to record his statement in the ongoing land scam case. 

He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of conspiring against his government. 

The Jharkhand CM has been consistently avoiding to appear before the enforcement agency and instead filed petitions before the Supreme Court and later in the Jharkhand High Court, seeking protection from agency's actions. He termed the summons as unwarranted in his pleas. 

However, his petiitons were dismissed by both the courts. 

The summons comes in the wake of a significant mining scam, with allegations of financial irregularities amounting to approximately Rs 1000 crore. The ED had earlier apprehended one of Soren's close aides, Pankaj Mishra, as part of their ongoing investigation into the matter.