New Delhi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday challenged in the Supreme Court the summons of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the 'money laundering' case, pleading to quash it. In his petition, Mr. Soren has accused the ED that the summons is an attempt to tarnish his image, the reputation of the democratically elected Jharkhand government and its people. He sought quashing of the summons issued against him in the money laundering case, besides other prayers. The ED had called Mr. Soren twice for questioning in the money laundering case, but he did not turn up. The ED is probing two major money laundering cases in the state. The first case is related to illegal mining in the state. The agency had questioned Mr. Soren in the mining case on November 17 last year.

The second case pertains to an alleged land scam in the state capital Ranchi. Thirteen people, including Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer C Ranjan and two businessmen, have already been arrested in the alleged land scam. Central probe agency ED had called Mr. Soren to its regional office in Ranchi on August 14 to record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Then he did not appear before the ED, calling it a 'politically motivated' case. He had questioned the summons and asked the agency to withdraw it. The agency, however, rejected Mr. Soren's claims and issued another summon asking him to appear before the agency.