Hemant Soren moves JharKhand HC challenging ED summons
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has taken legal action by filing a petition in the Jharkhand High Court challenging the issuance of summons to him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case of alleged money laundering. His counsel, Piyush Chitresh, confirmed the filing of the petition.
It’s worth noting that earlier, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain Soren’s plea against the ED’s summons related to the money laundering case. However, the Supreme Court granted Soren the liberty to approach the Jharkhand High Court for potential relief regarding this matter.
In response to this, Soren has now filed a petition in the Jharkhand High Court challenging the ED’s issuance of summons to him. The legal proceedings will continue in the high court, where the matter will be further considered and decided based on the arguments and evidence presented by both parties.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had previously issued summons to Chief Minister Hemant Soren to appear at the federal agency’s office in Ranchi on August 14 and later to record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with a case of alleged money laundering.
Soren had cited pre-scheduled events and skipped the ED’s summons related to an alleged defense land scam case.
It’s worth noting that the 48-year-old Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader had previously been interrogated by the ED for over nine hours on November 17 of the previous year in connection with another money-laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is actively conducting an extensive investigation into a series of land deals in Jharkhand, encompassing more than a dozen transactions. These land deals involve various properties, including one related to defense land. The investigation revolves around allegations that a group of individuals, which reportedly includes mafia members, middlemen, and bureaucrats, conspired to forge deeds and documents dating as far back as 1932.
The primary focus of this investigation is to uncover any alleged irregularities and illegal activities that may have occurred during these land transactions. The ED’s actions in the state of Jharkhand include not only the investigation itself but also various legal actions, such as arrests, to gather evidence and establish the veracity of the allegations.
One such arrest was that of Pankaj Mishra, a political aide, in connection with the cases being probed by the ED. These actions are part of the ED’s efforts to ensure that justice is served and that any wrongdoing related to these land deals is thoroughly investigated and addressed through the appropriate legal channels. The investigation aims to shed light on the alleged fraudulent activities and maintain the integrity of land transactions in the state.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren was initially summoned by the ED on November 3, 2022, but he did not appear, citing official engagements. At one point, he challenged the central probe agency to arrest him and subsequently sought a three-week deferment of the summons.
In response to these developments, the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has alleged that the Chief Minister is being targeted for political reasons. On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stated that given the allegations of corruption in the state, Soren would not receive any relief from the courts, and he would eventually have to face an ED investigation.
The situation appears to be politically charged, with differing perspectives on the motivations behind the ED’s actions and the allegations of corruption. Legal proceedings will continue as the investigations unfold and are considered by the relevant authorities and courts.
