ED summons Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in illegal mining case

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for questioning in connection with the Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to illegal mining and extortion, sources said on Wednesday.
“Hemant Soren has been called to join the investigation for Thursday. He will have to appear at our Ranchi office by 11 a.m. tomorrow,” the source said.
The ED had recently filed a charge sheet before a Special Ranchi court against Pankaj Mishra, a close aide of Soren, and Bachhu Yadav and Prem Prakash who are also said to be close to the Jharkhand CM.
The ED has also written a letter to Jharkhand Police Commissioner to make appropriate security arrangements ahead of his questioning.
The court has already taken the cognizance of the charge sheet.
The ED said that during the investigation of the case searches were conducted 47 times of throughout India on several dates resulting into the seizure of cash amounting to Rs 5.34 crore, freezing of bank balances amounting to Rs 13.32 crore, freezing of an inland vessel MV Infralink -III, registration No.- WB 1809, five stone crushers, two Hyva trucks besides the seizure of incriminating documents along with two AK 47 Assault Rifles.