As per sources, the ED team’s visit to Soren’s New Delhi residence could be linked to his fresh deposition in an alleged land fraud case in which the ED had questioned him at his official residence in Ranchi on January 20.The agency had issued fresh summons to him last week asking him to confirm his availability for questioning on either January 29 or January 31, sources had said.The investigation pertains to a “huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia” in Jharkhand, according to the agency.Soren travelled to the national capital on Saturday night, triggering speculations.His trip to Delhi came in the backdrop of the ED asking him whether he would be available for questioning on either January 29 or January 31.”The visit was not planned. The sudden plan was made after the issuance of a fresh summons by the ED. He has his scheduled events lined up, including a programme in Chaibasa on January 29, in Palamu on January 30, and in Giridih on January 31″, as per an official.A source had said that Soren went to Delhi for legal consultations.However, this could not be corroborated by the Chief Minister’s Office.The central agency had recorded the chief minister’s statement on January 20 at his official residence here under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).It was learnt that the fresh summons was issued as the questioning was not completed that day.The investigation pertains to a “huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia” in Jharkhand, according to the agency.The ED has so far arrested 14 people in the case, including 2011-batch IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan who served as the director of the state’s Social Welfare Department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi.
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