Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has taken legal action against the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a land scam case, as confirmed by his counsel, Piyush Chitresh, on Saturday. Soren has filed a petition in the Jharkhand High Court, seeking relief in the ongoing case.
This development follows the Supreme Court's decision to decline his petition against the central investigative agency in the money laundering case.
Hemant Soren received a fourth summons in the case, requiring him to appear before the ED on September 23.
In response, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya emphasized that it is not obligatory for Chief Minister Soren to comply with the summons, especially when he has already sought legal relief, and the matter remains pending in court.
Bhattacharya further alleged that there is a persistent effort to target Hemant Soren, who belongs to a tribal community.
"The Centre is utilizing the agency to construct a narrative against Soren regarding corruption, but the people of Jharkhand are aware of the truth," Bhattacharya asserted.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdev raised questions about Soren's repeated non-compliance with the ED's summons. Shahdev suggested that Soren's actions might give the impression of evading the authorities, raising doubts about his innocence. He implied that Soren might lack the courage to face the agency's inquiries.
Prior to the recent summons on September 23, Soren had failed to appear before the ED on three separate occasions: August 14, August 24, and September 9.
The 48-year-old leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha had previously undergone over nine hours of interrogation by the ED on November 17 of the previous year. This questioning was related to another money-laundering case connected to alleged illegal mining activities in the state.
