Pankaj Mishra, Soren's aide, has already been arrested in the case.
Digital Desk: The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in connection with an illegal mining case. Soren has been summoned to appear before the central investigation agency on November 3.
Pankaj Mishra, Soren's aide, has already been arrested in the case. On July 8, the investigation agency raided 18 locations in Jharkhand associated with Pankaj Mishra and his business associates.
The searches were conducted after the ED filed a case against Mishra and others in March under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), alleging that the former "illegally grabbed or amassed huge assets in his favour." The accused Pankaj Mishra has accumulated criminal proceeds totaling Rs 42 crore, to date.
The PMLA Investigation revealed that Pankaj Mishra, who enjoys political clout, being the representative of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, MLA from Barhait, Sahebganj, Jharkhand, controls the illegal mining businesses as well as inland ferry services in Sahebganj and its adjoining areas through his accomplices, as per the agency.
The ED initiated a money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR against Pankaj Mishra and others. Later on, several FIRs regarding illegal mining lodged under the IPC, Explosive substances Act, Arms Act have also been taken into the ambit of scheduled offences.
During the probe, 47 searches were conducted throughout India by the ED on several dates resulting in the seizure of cash to the tune of Rs 5.34 crore, freezing of bank balances amounting to Rs 13.32 crore, seizing of an inland vessel MV Infralink-III, five stone crushers, two Hyva trucks besides the seizure of incriminating documents along with two AK 47 assault rifles.
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