Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has penned a letter to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), criticizing their insistence on recording a further statement before January 31, 2024. Soren highlighted his preoccupation with preparations for the Legislative Assembly’s Budget Session, scheduled between February 2 and 29, along with prior official commitments. He accused the ED of a “malicious” agenda to disrupt the State Government’s functioning and impede his official duties as an elected representative.
Soren stated, “The undersigned’s apprehensions that your acts are malefic and politically motivated stand vindicated. The issuance of summon to the undersigned is wholly vexatious and in the colorable exercise of powers given by the statute.”
This letter comes in response to the ED’s visit to Soren’s Delhi residence on January 29 for a money laundering investigation. The ED team, present for over 13 hours, claimed the CM was “missing,” while a family member countered this narrative, asserting that Soren had complied with summons and was willing to record his statement on January 31 at his Ranchi residence.
The ED had previously questioned Hemant Soren at his official residence in Ranchi on January 20 and subsequently issued fresh summons for further questioning.