VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Nov 19: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren may be slamming the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly implicating him in the stone mining scam under a political agenda but he equally left the ED amused with his witty comments.
On November 17, the ED questioned Hemant Soren for nearly 10 hours. Well placed sources said that the CM and the ED officials took several breaks during the questioning. During one such break, Hemant Soren told the ED officials that their raids and investigations in the Sahibganj mining scam were not bad at all. He said that revenue of the state out of mining increased after the ED started investigation. The CM left ED officials humoured when he said that the ED should open its office in Sahibganj. But the agency people are not sure whether it was an appreciation or a left handed compliment. However, the CM has been very critical towards the ED projecting the mining scam worth Rs. 1000 Crore and also shot off a letter to the ED in this regard.
The CM gave a measured reply of all such questions asked by the ED. But regarding his properties, bank details and transactions he sought time to furnish details. Even the ED officials suggested that he carefully fill up details of his assets to avoid any legal trouble.
Pankaj Mishra, who is his MLA representative. has been accused as a main conduit of illegal mining. Pankaj Mishra’s associate Dahu Yadav was allegedly involved in the illegal stone mining and transportation. The ED has been insisting that CM gave patronage to Pankaj Mishra and Dahu Yadav. But the CM denied all these allegations. He denied that he had information regarding illegal mining activity of Pankaj Mishra. He insisted he never gave any protection to Pankaj Mishra to do all these things. And if a person like Dahu Yadav with criminal background was blatantly indulged in illegal transportation the local administration should be asked.
The ED after this placed before him some of the evidence Pankaj Mishra and Dahu Yadav were closely linked with the CM. He was confronted with a part of the statement by Pankaj Mishra. The ED further countered his statement that he had not given any patronage to Pankaj Mishra to carry illegal mining. The ED said that during investigation government staff said that they were helpless before Pankaj Mishra as he was close to CM.
