Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren unlikely to attend ED’s 9th summon

Ranchi, January 25: Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Thursday informed Enforcement Directorate (ED) that he would communicate in due course of time about his availability for their ninth summon.

A special messenger from chief minister’s office handed over a sealed letter at the ED zonal office in Ranchi on Thursday afternoon.

Sources in the ED office informed that the chief minister has only written that ‘he would communicate about his availability for their summon in due course of time’.

The same source said that during the questioning on Saturday at chief minister’s residence when ED official said that they might require his cooperation again when needed the chief minister had said that he will be tied up till March 31.

Significantly, barely 48 hours after quizzing Hemant Soren, ED had on Monday against summoned him (ninth time) for questioning related to alleged money laundering charges in a land scam case.

The ED letter  had asked Hemant Soren to appear for questioning between January 27 and 31.

The letter has also given the chief minister the option of answering the ED questions either at his official residence in Kanke Road or at ED office on Hinoo Road in Ranchi.

Incidentally, ED officials had interrogated Hemant Soren for over seven hours on Saturday at his official residence in a separate closed room.

Earlier this year, Soren in reply to the seventh summons of the ED had criticised the federal agency terming its probe as ‘baseless and biased’.

 After the Saturday questioning, Soren while meeting party supporters near his residence had alleged the questioning as a conspiracy by BJP-led Centre to disturb his government.

“Since the formation of our government they (read BJP) is hatching conspiracy. We have never bowed down or been afraid. I want to tell you Hemant Soren will always stand with each of the party workers. I promise you.  We will continue to work for state’s development by shredding their conspiracies to pieces. It is time to put a final nail to their coffin. If need arose I will take bullets but will not bow down,” said Soren.