GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd Jan. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting searches at 10 locations in Ranchi and Rajasthan as part of a money laundering investigation related to illegal mining in Jharkhand, according to sources.
Among those being searched is Abhishek Prasad, the press adviser of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
Other individuals facing action by the ED include Hazaribag deputy superintendent of police Rajendra Dubey and Sahib Ganj district collector Ram Nivas. The district collector’s residence is in Rajasthan.
In a separate case involving an alleged land scam, the ED has issued summons to Soren for the seventh time, requesting his statement.
According to news agency ANI, Soren has deemed the summons illegal and has already provided details of his properties in a letter to the ED.
Soren accused the ED of conducting a media trial and attempting to destabilize his government in his response. ANI reported an unnamed source stating that he believes there is a larger conspiracy to harass him as a tribal leader.
Furthermore, Soren is under investigation for alleged money laundering related to the illegal mining case in Sahebganj district. As the Chief Minister in charge of the mines and geology department, he is accused of violating election rules by granting himself a mining lease in 2021.
Soren has denied any wrongdoing and dismissed speculation about his wife, Kalpana Soren, running for the Gandey assembly constituency in the upcoming national election as a fabrication by the BJP.
The speculation arose due to the ED’s recent summons to Soren and the resignation of ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad on Monday.
The BJP has alleged that Ahmad was forced to resign to make way for Kalpana Soren to contest the Gandey seat in case of any developments in the ED matter.
