Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a fresh communication to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, asking for his presence for further investigation in a money laundering case.
According to official sources, the request was made on Saturday, and Chief Minister Soren has been asked to confirm his availability for questioning on either January 29 or January 31.
Earlier, the central agency had extended an invitation to the Jharkhand chief minister to participate in the probe, offering dates between January 27 and January 31. However, as there was no official response received, a fresh letter-cum-summons has now been issued to Soren.
On January 20, the ED recorded Chief Minister Soren’s statement at his official residence in Ranchi, during which the investigators spent nearly seven hours questioning him. This statement was recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
It has come to light that the issuance of the fresh summons is due to the fact that the questioning on that day remained incomplete. The ongoing investigation revolves around a “massive racket involving illegal changes in land ownership orchestrated by criminal elements” within Jharkhand, as reported by the agency.
It’s worth noting that the ED has thus far arrested a total of 14 individuals in connection with this case, including IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan, who previously held positions as the director of the state’s Social Welfare Department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi. The ED’s efforts continue to uncover the intricate details of this money laundering operation.
