Hemant Soren unlikely to appear before ED on August 14 for questioning in money laundering case

The 48-year-old Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader was interrogated for over nine hours by the ED on November 18 last year in another money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the State.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is unlikely to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Ranchi on August 14 in connection with a money laundering case, a source said.

The ED had on August 8 summoned Mr. Soren to depose on August 14 at the federal agency's office in Ranchi and record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

"The chief minister is unlikely to appear before the ED today in view of his busy schedule. He may request for another date from the agency," the source said.

Mr. Soren was to be questioned in an alleged defence land scam case.

The 48-year-old Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader was interrogated for over nine hours by the ED on November 18 last year in another money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the State.

Also read | PILs seeking probe into money-laundering allegations against Soren not maintainable: SC

The Central probe agency is investigating more than a dozen land deals, including one related to defence land, wherein a group of land mafia, middlemen and bureaucrats allegedly connived to forge deeds and documents of as long back as 1932.