SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, January 27: The war of nerves between the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Chief Minister Hemant Soren over questioning in the Ranchi land scam continues.
Today, the ED sent yet another letter to Soren, seeking time to question him for the second round either on January 29 or January 31. The agency said that it would conduct the second round of questioning at his official residence if he did not come to the ED’s zonal office, sources said.
Notably, on January 25, Soren informed the ED that he was unavailable for the second round of questioning between January 27 and January 31, as desired by the ED. The ED had summoned him at its zonal office in Ranchi.
In a missive, the chief minister, acknowledging the ED’s letter, had said that he would inform the agency about his availability for the second round of questioning.
Sources said that the chief minister would be busy during the State Assembly’s budget session from February 6 to February 29. “So, he will inform the ED about his availability after the Budget session,” sources added.
However, the ED is not ready to give him more time, and considers it a tactics to delay the investigation.
CM hinted about non-availability
During questioning, the ED investigators told him that the agency would also require his questioning on another date. The CM, however, then told ED sleuths that he had a busy official schedule till March, dropping hints that he needed more time for the next round of questioning.
While questioned, Soren said that he had not grabbed any land or that the 8.46 acres of land located at Bariatu in Ranchi were under his possession; ED sources said the agency had concrete proof against him. The agency wants to take the investigation to its logical conclusion.
First summons on August 14 2023
The ED had served him the first summons on August 14 last year. Soren was persuaded to be questioned on January 20 after ignoring seven summons. However, in its eight summons, the ED warned him of severe consequences if he disobeyed them.
Why did ED question CM?
The ED wants to record the CM’s response to the documents seized from Ranchi district Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad and his properties. The agency has lodged a case in this regard for tampering and falsification of government records.
