ED issues summons to Jharkhand CM Soren; asks to appear on Sept 23

ED has asked Jharkhand CM Soren to join its investigation in the alleged money laundering case on September 23.

Earlier on September 15, the Supreme Court adjourned to September 18 Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Sorens plea against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons to him in a money laundering case.

Soren's advocate urged a bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi to adjourn the matter for Monday.

Hemant Soren has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the summons issued to him and said that the case was a clear abuse of law by the Central Government and a misuse of the central agencies to destabilize the democratically elected government led by him.

Soren was earlier summoned by the ED in mid-August in connection with an alleged land scam case. However, Soren did not join the central agency probe stating that he was busy with the preparation for the Independence Day celebration in the state. He was again asked to appear on August 24 and September 9 but he did not appear before the probe agency.

In his plea, Soren urged the top court to declare Section 50 and Section 63 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 as ultra vires to the Constitution of India and to issue appropriate direction to declare the summons against him as illegal and null and void.

"As sentinel on the que vive, this Court has the Constitutional mandate to quash any act of the Union Government which is vitiated by malice and designed to interfere with the franchise exercised by the people of Jharkhand. With the general election approaching soon in the next 7-8 months, the political atmosphere in the country has been vitiated by the ruling regime and all efforts have been made to threaten, humiliate and intimidate the political leaders, particularly, when the opposition has united to form INDIA alliance in which petitioner and his party are a vocal participant and integral part of the alliance and who are not aligned with the NDA," the petition read.

It said that the issuance of summons is actuated by malice and that false allegation has been levelled against the petitioner with the sole motive to create political uncertainty and unrest in the state.

The petition said ED earlier also sought to link the petitioner with the alleged illegal mining of stone chips in Jharkhand and summons were issued.

Soren told the court that he has provided details of all movable and immovable properties owned by him and his family along with certified copies of the title deed.

The Chief Minister had asked the probe agency to withdraw the summon against him or he will take legal action. In his letter written earlier, Soren said that he had provided all necessary documents and information. (ANI)