Seized Rs 36 lakh in cash, BMW from Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s house in Delhi: ED

On Monday, an ED team visited Soren’s South Delhi residence to question him in connection with a money laundering investigation in an alleged land fraud case. But he was not present at his home and they camped there for almost 13 hours. The ED teams will be at the residence till Soren returns, sources said, adding that authorities are also keeping a vigil at the Delhi airport.

Sources added that the ED teams seized about Rs 36 lakh in cash, a Haryana number plate-bearing BMW registered under a benami name and some incriminating documents during the day-long operation.

Soren, 48, has informed the ED that he is ready to depose before them on Wednesday at his Ranchi residence around 1 pm. The ED had issued a fresh summons to Soren asking him to confirm his availability for questioning on either January 29 or January 31, sources said.

“ED’s spontaneous arrival at the official residence of the CM…with hundreds of armed soldiers does not appear to be legal. What was the hurry that ED officials could not wait even for two days for the interrogation and that too when seven hours of interrogation had already taken place a week ago?” Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s (JMM’s) general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said.

JMM added that it was an insult to the honour and respect of a chief minister as well as to the 3.5 crore people of the state.

Meanwhile, BJP state chief Babulal Marandi said Soren had gone underground due to fear of the ED.