ED Summons Jharkhand CM for 8th Time in Land Fraud Case

Hemant Soren Receives Eighth ED Summons Over Ranchi Land Scandal

ED issues eighth summons to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in Ranchi land fraud case, requiring response between January 16-20, amid allegations of government record manipulation.

RANCHI – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued an eighth summons to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, escalating the ongoing legal tussle in the Ranchi land fraud case.

Soren is required to respond to the ED’s inquiries between January 16 and January 20, marking a continuation of the agency’s investigation.

This move follows the ED’s seventh summons, sent on December 29, offering Soren a final opportunity to record his statement by January 7 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

The case revolves around documents seized from Ranchi district Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad, implicating him in the alleged tampering and manipulation of government records.

In response to the seventh summons, Soren labeled the actions “illegal” and accused the ED of turning the issue into a media trial.

He has maintained that he provided all necessary details of the properties in question and alleges that the ED’s proceedings are politically motivated to destabilize his government.

Soren has been summoned by the ED on seven previous occasions: August 14, August 24, September 9, September 23, October 4, October 12, and December 29.

These summonses, issued under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, allow the ED to call individuals for questioning during any PMLA inquiry.

The situation highlights a significant political and legal confrontation between the state government and the federal investigating agency.