“The way I am being summoned it feels like I will be fleeing the country”: Hemant Soren on ED summons

Hemant Soren, the chief minister of Jharkhand, spoke to the media on Thursday before heading to the ED office for questioning regarding illegal mining.

“I am a chief minister. I hold a constitutional post. But the way I am being summoned it feels like I will be fleeing the country. In fact, I don’t think apart from businessmen, any political leaders have fled the country,” Hemant Soren said reiterating that the allegations against him are baseless. “I am shocked that how such a huge allegation can be brought against a chief minister so lightly,” Hemant Soren said.

“How come you claim a scam of ₹1,000 crore?” The chief minister said that he had written to the ED stating that the state’s total royalty income from stone mining over the previous two years was roughly 750 crores.

Soren claimed that up until this point, the plot to overthrow the government had been carried out surreptitiously, but that it is now clearly visible.

“The ED is expected to carry out its investigation in a fair and impartial manner without any hidden agenda or motive. I have taken an oath to uphold the constitution and the Rule of Law and in order to discharge my duties as an honest citizen of this country, I shall attend at your office today in compliance with the Summons issued for me,” Hemant wrote in his letter.

Prior to Hemant Soren’s appearance, a large number of security men were stationed outside the ED office in Ranchi. Soren was initially asked to appear on November 4 but declined, citing his official itinerary, which included going to a tribal celebration that the Chhattisgarh government was hosting. Then, he urged the ED to take him into custody rather than summon him for questioning.

The summons that had been issued to Soren in the case had been delayed for three weeks.

Hemant Soren, the chief minister of Jharkhand, was called in by the ED for questioning about alleged violations of the 1951 Representation of the People Act and a money laundering investigation involving an illegal mining case in the Sahebganj district.