“New India’s Premier Investigative Agency!”: ED Criticised For Fridge, Smart TV Invoices Evidence Against Hemant Soren

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is facing sharp criticism following its revelation of using invoices for a refrigerator and smart TV as evidence against former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in an alleged money laundering case.

Mr Soren, who resigned after his arrest on January 31 in the money laundering case, is right now in judicial custody in Birsa Munda jail at Hotwar in Ranchi.

According to a report by PTI, the ED presented invoices from two Ranchi-based dealers to support its claim that Mr Soren acquired 8.86 acres of land worth over ₹31 crore illegally. The agency also alleged that the gadgets were purchased in the name of family members of a caretaker of the property claimed by Soren.

Reacting to the report, many netizens including journalists have lambasted the ED’s approach, calling it a “macabre comedy” and questioning the significance of such purchases in determining corruption.

Critics argue that the inclusion of invoices for household appliances in the charge sheet undermines the seriousness of the allegations.

Journalists Rohini Singh, Swati Chaturvedi, and Saurav Das have all criticised the ED’s reliance on such evidence, questioning its relevance to the case and characterizing it as a diversionary tactic.

“A macabre comedy is playing out with BJP controlled central agencies,” Rohini Singh wrote. The Opposition have been alleging for long that the BJP-led central government is using agencies like ED, CBI and Income Tax agencies to file false and made up cases against their leaders.

“So no “honest” and “laundered” politicians of Modi ka parivar use smart TVs and fridges? Because the ED claims recoveries of these make Soren corrupt?,” asked another journalist Swati Chaturvedi. There have been huge allegations against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the central agencies never raid or arrest members of the ruling party or the leaders who join the party.

Investigative journalist Saurav Das wrote: “A chief minister is arrested and put behind bars, with no bail from courts, because he bought a fridge and smart TV from laundered money. New India’s premier investigative agency!”