Even though security forces have encircled the regional office of the central investigating agency, there is no indication that the Chief Minister Hemant Soren will appear before the ED today. 

“Legal advise has been taken and the response of whether or not CM Hemant Sorenji is awaited”, said a source close to the CM office.

The CM Soren is expected to seek time to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday in connection with a money laundering case, it is learnt. 

The ED had on August 8 summoned Soren to depose on August 14 at the ED’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," PTI has quoted its “source” as saying. 

Official records say the ruling JMM leader Hemant Soren was interrogated for over nine hours by the ED in November 2022 in another money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state. Now, Soren and his office have preferred not to respond to fresh summons issued by the ED.