Hemant Soren gets EC notice on mining lease given to himself
NEW DELHI: A mining lease purportedly allotted to Hemant Soren by the state government has landed the Jharkhand chief minister in trouble with the Election Commission, which has served him a notice and asked him to respond by May 10, officials familiar with the matter said.
“We have gone through the documents (sent by Jharkhand chief secretary last week) and found it to be genuine,” an official said. “There is a prima facie case that is made out under Section 9A of the Representation of People Act.” Section 9A of the Representation of People Act,
1951, pertains to disqualification for government contracts.
The election commission will permit a personal hearing to Soren, if he so wishes, to refute charges of office of profit, the official said.
Soren is in Hyderabad for the medical treatment of his mother. His office declined comment on the development.
However, JMM principal general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said, “It is a legal matter. Any such notice would be taken up legally. CM’S counsels would respond to the notice as per procedure.”
The matter pertains to alleged grant of an in-principle approval for stone quarrying lease in Soren’s name on government land on the outskirts of state capital Ranchi, which was cleared by the mines and environment departments, both headed by the chief minister.
Soren has maintained in court there was no question of profiting since the letter for operating the mine was never issued. His alliance partner Congress has rallied in his sup
port.