After skipping seven summons by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has agreed to appear before the probe agency on January 20 for questioning in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
Soren agreed to appear for questioning days after the probe agency summoned him for the eighth time. Soren has asked the probe agency to record his statement at the Chief Minister’s secretariat on January 20.
Two days ago, ED had sent a strong missive to Soren to record his statement between January 16 to January 20.
The ED had told Soren that in case of his inability to visit the ED office, the agency officials would visit the Chief Minister at his residence in Ranchi. However, it clarified that the responsibility for maintaining law and order during the proceedings would rest with the state government.
Soren had previously accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of using central agencies to destabilise his government.
The case is related to illegal change of ownership of land in Jharkhand. Soren is likely to be questioned about his alleged ownership of this land. So far, 14 people have been arrested in the case.
The Jharkhand CM had filed a petition before the Supreme Court and then the Jharkhand High Court, seeking protection from ED action. Both the courts had dismissed his petition.
Meanwhile, Soren’s media advisor Abhishek Prasad Pintu’s properties were raided in connection with the Rs 1,250 crore illegal mining case on January 3.