Amid heightened security, Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths on Saturday reached Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence in Ranchi to question him in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam, reports PTI.
The investigation pertains to a “huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia” in Jharkhand, the ED had alleged.
The 48-year-old executive president of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) had earlier skipped seven summons by the anti-money laundering agency. This was his eighth summons which he agreed to.
The CISF, tasked with the security of the ED officials, are using high-resolution body cameras to keep track of activities around Soren’s residence.
Ahead of the questioning, the ruling JMM on Saturday convened a meeting of all its legislators at Soren’s house to discuss the situation.
“Any strategy about the future course of action will be made based on the outcome of the ED questioning,” JMM general secretary and spokesperson, Supriyo Bhattacharya told PTI.
He also said that the protests by tribals against the ED summons was “spontaneous” and the party had no role in this.
Heavy security arrangements have been made at CM’s residence and other key points in Ranchi ahead of the questioning. Jharkhand Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan, DGP Ajay Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Ranchi, Rahul Kumar Sinha and SSP Chandan Kumar Sinha reached CM House in view of the ED questioning.
In connection with the alleged scam, the ED had so far arrested 14 people, including 2011-batch IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan who has served as the director of the state Social Welfare Department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi.
Calling the summonses “unwarranted”, the CM had filed a petition before the Supreme Court and then the Jharkhand High Court, seeking protection from ED action. However, both the courts dismissed the petitions.
In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, the ruling coalition has 47 MLAs, including 29 MLAs from the JMM, 17 from the Congress, and one from the RJD.