On Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued a fresh summon to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, when a team of the central agency went to the Delhi residence of the CM to question him on having an alleged connection with the money laundering case linked with the land scam. However, Soren was not present at his house and left at midnight, according to the officials.
About the case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), a probe agency suspects Soren’s involvement in a money laundering scheme linked to illegal mining and land scam in the state. While Soren denied all the accusations, calling them politically motivated and attempting to destabilize his government.
Besides this, the ED initiated its investigation in 2022, where the agency raided several locations, and arrested 14 individuals including two IAS officers. Further, on January 20, 2024, the ED questioned CM Hemant for the first time at his residence. He was expected for further questioning on January 29 but remained untraceable, after which the ED issued a fresh summons to appear on (Wednesday) January 31.
Where did Soren go?
According to the official sources, Soren has been untraceable since the ED began its investigation. His whereabouts are currently unknown, which has led to the speculation that he may be trying to avoid being questioned by the ED. The ED summoned Hemant Soren multiple times, but he failed to appear. A team of ED officials arrived at his official Delhi residence on Monday, but he was not present there, and his exact location remains unknown.
However, the speculations suggest that he may have fled to another country, or he might be simply staying out of sight to avoid being questioned by the central agency, as the officials are still in search of him in and across the state.
ED Lookout for Hemant Soren
The investigators said that Hemant Soren had left a moment before the probe agency officials reached his residence, to which they found that the phone of the CM and his personal security guard switched off, said the officials. They also asked about any strikers at the capital’s border after they came to know that Soren had cancelled the charted flight that he might have taken to Ranchi at evening 6 pm.
Moreover, the neighbouring state’s police were asked to look out for him. Also, the security alert has been placed in Ranchi and other parts of Jharkhand. Besides, it could be possible if the central agency might issue a non-bailable arrest warrant for Soren, or any other steps to compel him to appear before the agency.
Possible Implications
Hemant Soren’s disappearance amid a money laundering probe casts a shadow over the state’s political landscape. If ED takes legal action, then Soren’s arrest could trigger political turmoil, and disturb the ongoing governance and development projects. However, it will also affect the JMM party’s image on both regional and national levels, further straining political discourse. Overall, the coming days are crucial, as Soren’s response to the summons and the agency’s next move will determine the trajectory.
Comments 1