Hemant Soren ‘missing’ as ED reaches Delhi residence

Security has been beefed up in Jharkhand as ED tightens noose in money laundering investigation

Security has been tightened at the CM House, Raj Bhavan and central government offices in Jharkhand capital Ranchi on Monday as an Enforcement Directorate team visited the residence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren in New Delhi in connection with a money laundering investigation. Soren, 48, who is also the executive president of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) left for the national capital on January 27 night while scheduled government events of Monday stand cancelled here without any explanation. Soren was scheduled to be present at an event in Chaibasa on January 29, in Palamu on January 30, and in Giridih on January 31.

Soren’s party JMM has been staging protests against ED summons to Soren. “We have ensured that the law and order situation here is maintained. We have beefed up security in the state capital including at key installations like the Raj Bhavan, ED office, Central government office, CM House in order to avoid any crowd there... Prohibitory orders are in place for important installations. We are taking enough precautions (in the prevailing situation),” Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Avinash Kumar told PTI.  

Keeping watch on situation: Governor

Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan said he is keeping a watch on the situation in the wake of ED summons to Soren, and asserted that he “will cross the bridge when it comes”. “I am keeping a watch on the overall situation as the custodian of the Constitution. It is the job of the Governor, I am doing it. We will cross the bridge when it comes,” he told reporters. Asked about the possibility of imposition of the President’s Rule in the state, he dismissed it saying it was a “guesswork” at present, adding that political parties should not get involved in it. On Soren skipping ED summons in connection with a money laundering probe, he said, “I will tell you one thing - nobody is above the law. We should not create a situation so that we are bigger persons than the law. If the CM is not responding today, he has to respond tomorrow.”

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