Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, in correspondence addressed to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), expressed grave concerns regarding what he perceived as a politically motivated and wide-ranging inquiry into an alleged money laundering case. Within his missive, Soren, aged 48, leveled accusations against the central agency, alleging a concerted effort to tarnish his reputation through the dissemination of fabricated information to the media, thereby subjecting him to what he described as an unwarranted trial by public opinion.
In addition to these assertions, Soren revealed that during a prior interrogation on January 20, he was subjected to a barrage of 17 to 18 inquiries concerning financial deposits. This latest episode unfolded as an Enforcement Directorate team purportedly made a visit to Soren's residence in Delhi on Monday, January 29, only to find him absent, having departed for an undisclosed destination by midnight, as per sources cited by India Today TV.
The unfolding saga saw the Enforcement Directorate issuing fresh summons to Soren, urging his appearance for questioning on either January 29 or January 31 in connection with the alleged money laundering case, which the agency contends involves a sprawling network engaged in illicit land ownership transfers orchestrated by criminal elements in Jharkhand.
In the communiqué dated January 29, obtained by India Today TV, Soren communicated his intent to make himself available for interrogation at his residence at 1 pm on January 31. Among the focal points articulated in Soren's correspondence was the scrutiny directed towards financial transactions linked to Sohrai Events and Sohrai Bhawan, businesses helmed by his spouse, Kalpana Soren, between 2018 and 2022.
Moreover, Soren vehemently contested allegations on the ownership of a parcel of land in Bargai, which purportedly remained undisclosed in his Election Commission Affidavit. He clarified that the said property falls under the category of Bhuinhari Land, which is legally impermissible for purchase or sale, asserting its longstanding ownership by the Pahan Family spanning more than five decades.
Addressing the ED's insinuation of non-disclosure of proceeds of crime, as outlined in the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), Soren maintained that such accusations were not raised during the interrogation process. Additionally, he reaffirmed his unwavering trust in the judicial system, vowing to resort to legal recourse to challenge any perceived infringement of his rights.
