New Delhi/Ranchi. The Enforcement Directorate i.e. ED team is searching for Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. On Monday, the ED team reached the Chief Minister’s house in Shanti Niketan, New Delhi in search of him but he was not found at his house. It is noteworthy that the Chief Minister had come to Delhi by a special flight on the evening of 27 January. Before that, he had received summons from ED, in which he was asked to be available for questioning between 29 and 31 January. It was only after this summons that he suddenly left for Delhi.
However, on Monday, the Chief Minister’s party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha informed that he has informed the ED through email that he will be available for questioning after 1 pm on January 31. The party said that despite being ready for questioning, the ED reached the Chief Minister’s residence to harass and defame him. It is being told that the ED team has also searched the CM’s residence in Shanti Niketan. It is noteworthy that ED has issued summons to the Chief Minister 10 times in the alleged land related scam.
Earlier, on January 20, the ED had recorded the Chief Minister’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, PMLA, at his official residence. Then ED had told that its inquiry has not been completed hence summons has been issued to him again. Meanwhile, regarding the ED action taken at the Delhi residence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Jharkhand State President of Congress Rajesh Thakur said in Ranchi that a rumor is being spread that the CM is missing. He said that this is being done to impose President’s rule by creating an atmosphere of chaos in the state.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said that Chief Minister Hemant Soren has given time to the ED for questioning on the email. CM is ready for questioning on January 31 at 1 pm. He said- ED’s action is undemocratic. Meanwhile, JMM workers have gathered in Morhabadi area of Ranchi to protest against the ED action and want to march to Raj Bhavan. However, security arrangements have been tightened around the Chief Minister’s residence and Governor Bhavan. Security of the state office of BJP and important leaders of all parties has also been increased.
Amidst the news of ED action and Chief Minister’s disappearance, Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan said on Monday – If the Chief Minister is not answering today then he will have to answer tomorrow. As a true citizen we must obey. The law and order situation is not very satisfactory. I have expressed this many times. Action will have to be taken. Meanwhile, it is also being said that no one has any information about Chief Minister Soren’s whereabouts since Sunday. There is also talk that the Chief Minister may be arrested. In view of this, the police in Jharkhand have been alerted. Leaves of policemen have also been cancelled.