After Eight Summons In Land Scam, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Likely To Appear Before Enforcement Directorate

After skipping seven summons by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has agreed to appear for questioning in a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

According to sources cited by Indian Express, the questioning is likely to take place on 20 January in Ranchi at Soren’s Secretariat Office on the basis of the eighth summons issued to the Jharkhand CM.

This comes after a reported instruction from the Jharkhand government to all departments to avoid answering any queries by the central agencies or handing over any documents to them directly.

The investigation in the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) case revolves around the ED's allegations of a "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" taking place in Jharkhand.

The agency has already arrested 14 individuals in connection with the case, including Chhavi Ranjan, a 2011-batch Indian Administrative Service officer who previously served as the director of the state social welfare department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi.

The land under question has an area of 8-13 acres and the ED will proceed its investigation by asking Soren about his alleged ownership of this land and the following "proceeds of crime". However, the Jharkhand government claims that details of Soren's assets are already public.