New Delhi, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been summoned again by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on November 17 in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to illegal mining cases in Jharkhand and Bihar.
Soren had earlier skipped the questioning and sought three weeks’ time from the ED. Agency sources claimed that they have sent him a fresh summons to join the probe.
Soren had written a letter to the probe agency seeking three weeks’ time. He said that he had programs to attend and hence he needed three weeks’ time. The ED had also written to the Jharkhand Police Commissioner to make appropriate security arrangements ahead of his questioning.“There was a cheque signed by Mr. Soren which was found by us during the recent raid.
He also allegedly misused his position and granted a lease,” the sources said. The ED had recently filed a Prosecution Complaint (charge sheet) before a Special Ranchi court against Pankaj Mishra, a close aide of Soren, and Bachhu Yadav and Prem Prakash. The court has already taken cognizance of the charge sheet.
The ED said that during the investigation, 47 searches were conducted throughout India on several dates resulting in the seizure of cash amounting to Rs 5.34 crore, freezing of bank balances amounting to Rs 13.32 crore, seizure of an inland vessel MV Infralink -III, reg. No- WB 1809, 5 stone crushers, two Hyva trucks besides incriminating documents along with two AK 47 assault rifles.