Police in the Indian state of Jharkhand have summoned reporters from four New Delhi news channels. This comes after former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren filed a police report against senior officials from India’s economic law enforcement agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The reporters, from News18, Zee News, Aaj Tak, and News24, were summoned as part of the ongoing investigation.
The ED raided Soren’s Delhi residence in January, seizing ₹3.6 million, an SUV and “incriminating” documents. The case against Soren, who resigned as Chief Minister of Jharkhand before his arrest on January 31, revolves around allegations that he fraudulently acquired 8.5 acres of land in the state capital, Ranchi.
The police want the summoned journalists to reveal how they learned about the ED seizures. Furthermore, Soren lodged a separate police complaint against the ED under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 before his arrest. He claimed the ED’s investigation aimed to harass and malign him and his community.
The police report was registered under several sections of the SC/ST Act, including instituting false legal proceedings, intentional insult or intimidation to humiliate, and promoting feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill-will.
The ED has since challenged the police report in the Jharkhand High Court. The court, in response, granted a stay on the police proceedings against the ED.