NEW Delhi: which failed to question Hemant Soren on Monday, did not return empty-handed from his Delhi home.
Sources said the ED team, which waited for Soren to turn up, chanced upon Rs 36 lakh in cash, a BMW allegedly belonging to a Kolkata-based shell company and documents linked to the case of alleged money laundering that had taken them to the chief minister’s Shanti Niketan residence in the capital.
Sources said the stash was found in Soren’s room, which makes him liable to explain the source of money. The BMW car has been traced to one of the shadow companies which, ED sources claimed, was launched for money laundering.
Agency sources said they would question Soren about the cash and the car on Wednesday when he has agreed to be examined by the ED team.
They also said Soren would be asked about the documents ED seized from his Delhi residence. They include the ‘prosecution complaint’ ED has filed against accused in other cases. “This suggests he has links with the accused and Soren will be asked to explain,” an officer said.
The haul includes other documents related to cases and their discovery from his premises was “extremely incriminating”, said a senior source familiar with the details of the investigation.
Reacting to ED’s cash haul claim, JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said, “Can someone search a home in the absence of its owner? Can’t it be possible that ED and BJP planted Rs 36 lakh at CM’s Delhi residence to frame him? This is brazen hooliganism by using the central agencies.”
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