ED reaches Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's residence to question him
Ranchi/IBNS: Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials Wednesday arrived at Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's residence in Ranchi to question him in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
The ED officials reached the CM's residence in ten vehicles. The ED team is accompanied by CISF personnel.
After reaching the Chief Minister's residence, the ED officials started questioning Soren.Earlier on Jan 20, the CM was grilled by the ED for seven hours at his residence.
After this, the ED wrote to Soren again on Jan 22, asking him to record the statement between Jan 27-31.Then, on Jan 29, the Chief Minister wrote to the ED accusing it of being "politically motivated" and preventing the elected government from working.Following this, the chief minister, on Jan 25, indirectly refused to give time to the ED for questioning.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Ranchi, including the Chief Minister's residence.Soren later sent an email to the ED agreeing to record his statement at his residence on Jan 31. He summoned the central agency to his residence at 1 p.m. on Wednesday to record his statement.
So far, the Chief Minister has evaded seven summons for questioning and reports said he is preparing to challenge the ED's summons in court.
Soren has claimed that he is being targeted as a part of a huge conspiracy.The case involves a "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, as per the central agency."A conspiracy was hatched against me, but the final nail in the coffin of the conspirators will be put by us... We will not be scared, your leader will face the bullets first and keep your morale high," Soren had told the workers of his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.
[With UNI inputs]