Jharkhand: ED summons CM Hemant Soren in illegal mining and money laundering case
According to officials, the Enforcement Directorate summoned Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday for questioning in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state on November 3 at its Ranchi office. According to the report, the agency wishes to question and record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
In connection with the case, the agency had previously arrested Soren's political aide Pankaj Mishra and two others. Mishra was arrested on July 19 after the federal investigation agency conducted state-wide raids in July and seized Rs. 11.88 crore from his bank accounts.
ED summons J'khand CM Hemant Soren for questioning on Nov 3 in money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining: officials
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 2, 2022
Soren will most likely be questioned about CM Soren's banking documents, cheque books, and passbooks, which were discovered at Mishra's home during the federal agency's raid.
The agency claims to have "identified" more than Rs 1,000 crore in proceeds from crimes related to illegal mining in the state.
On July 8, the ED raided Mishra and his alleged associates in Sahibganj, Barhait, Rajmahal, Mirza Chauki, and Barharwa in Jharkhand, covering 19 locations in the case linked to alleged instances of illegal mining and extortion.
Mishra and his associates are accused of carrying out the illegal mining case by intimidating district officials by using the title of CM. They are also accused of using the Chief Minister's political clout to avoid any action in the illegal mining case.