Ranchi, January 29: An Enforcement Directorate (ED) team on Monday visited the Delhi residence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to question him in connection with a money laundering investigation in an alleged land fraud case.
Meanwhile, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader, who had left for Delhi from Ranchi on January 27 night, has sent an email to the agency in which he has agreed to a fresh round of questioning by the ED investigators on January 31 at his Ranchi residence around 1 pm.
Hemant Soren in the letter has charged the Enforcement Directorate of being “motivated by political agenda” to disrupt the state government’s functioning and claimed that its insistence to record his statement again on or before January 31 reeked of malice.
In an email to the federal agency, the 48-year-old JMM executive president alleged that the issuance of summons to him was “wholly vexatious and in colourable exercise of powers given by the statute.” “Preserve video recording of seven-hour questioning (of January 20) to make available to the Court of Law,” Soren said in the email sent on Sunday, while agreeing to record his statement on January 31 at 1 pm at his residence.
Officials of the federal probe agency accompanied by Delhi Police personnel reached the 5/1 Shanti Niketan building in South Delhi around 9 am and were still there till late evening, while several media teams stood outside.
“We came to the residence of the chief minister to question him but he is not here. The ED teams also went to the Jharkhand Bhawan and a few other locations but could not find the chief minister,” a source said.
The federal agency had questioned Soren at his official residence in Ranchi on January 20 in the alleged land fraud case and had issued a fresh summons to him asking him to confirm his availability for questioning on either January 29 or January 31, the sources said.
Soren had sent a communication to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) but had not confirmed the date and time for questioning, according to the sources.
JMM protest against ED action
Ranchi, January 29: Meanwhile, the JMM said the ED’s action against Soren is “unconstitutional”.
“The CM went to Delhi for some personal work and he will be back. But, the ED action is uncalled for and unconstitutional. It seems that the move is politically motivated,” alleged JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya.
“Soren has nothing to do with the case. The ED is trying to spread false news by telling Hemant Soren is missing. He has already communicated to the ED that he would be available for questioning at his residence at around 1 pm on January 31,” he claimed.
A massive rally was taken out by the JMM workers on Monday in Ranchi accusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of targeting Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
Carrying party flags, banners and photographs of Soren, they gathered at Morabadi ground, from where they marched towards the CM House, the official residence of the chief minister.
Raising slogans such as ‘Hemant Soren Mat Ghabrana, Hum Tumhare Saath Hain (Hemant Soren don’t worry, we are with you)’, the rally passed through near the CM House and Raj Bhavan before it returned to Morabadi ground.
The JMM supporters who took part in the rally came from various districts such as Khunti, Ranchi, Garhwa, Ramgarh and Gumla.
Governor keeps close watch on political development
Ranchi, January 29: The Jharkhand unit of the BJP on Monday claimed that Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been “absconding” since the last 18 hours, fearing action of the Enforcement Directorate.
Urging Governor C P Radhakrishnan to take cognisance of the matter, Marandi said the credibility and reputation of Jharkhand are at stake.
Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Monday said he is keeping a watch on the situation in the state in the wake of ED summons to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and asserted that he “will cross the bridge when it comes”.
“I am keeping a watch on the overall situation as the custodian of the constitution. It is the job of the Governor, I am doing it. We will cross the bridge when it comes,” he told reporters in response to a question if all options were open for the Raj Bhavan in the wake of the political situation in the state.
Asked about the possibility of imposition of the President’s Rule in the state, he dismissed it saying it was a “guesswork” at present, adding that political parties should not get involved in it.
On Soren skipping ED summons in connection with a money laundering probe, he said, “I will tell you one thing nobody is above the law. We should not create a situation so that we are bigger persons than the law. If the CM is not responding today, he has to respond tomorrow. ” He expressed dissatisfaction over the Jharkhand law and order situation.