Jharkhand CM challenges ED summons in Land Scam case

Challenging the summons

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has taken a legal stance against the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a land scam case. Soren's counsel, Piyush Chitresh, confirmed this development and stated that Soren has filed a petition in the Jharkhand High Court seeking relief in the case.

Supreme Court refusal

The decision to challenge the ED's summons came after the Supreme Court declined to entertain Soren's petition regarding the central probe agency's involvement in a money laundering case.

Hemant Soren had been summoned to appear before the ED on September 23, marking the fourth summons in this case. However, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya asserted that it is not obligatory for CM Soren to comply with the summons when he has already sought legal relief, and the matter is pending in court.

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Allegations of Targeting

Bhattacharya further alleged that there is a persistent effort to target Hemant Soren, who belongs to the tribal community. He claimed that the central government is utilizing the agency to construct a narrative regarding corruption, but the people of Jharkhand are aware of the truth.

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdev raised questions about Soren's avoidance of the ED's summons, suggesting that it appears as if he is playing a game of hide and seek. Shahdev noted that Soren had skipped the ED's summons on three previous occasions before September 23. He implied that such actions may lead people to question Soren's innocence and willingness to face the agency's inquiries.

Previous interrogation

Notably, before this development, Hemant Soren had evaded three earlier summons by the ED, scheduled for August 14, August 24, and September 9. 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, concerning another money-laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state.

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