New Delhi, Nov 9 (TIWN) Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been summoned again by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on November 17 in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to illegal mining and extortion in Jharkhand and Bihar.

Soren, 47, was initially summoned by the federal probe agency on November 3 but he did not depose citing official engagements. He had then sought a three-week deferment of the summons.  Official sources said the agency has now asked the CM to appear next week on November 17 at its regional office in the state capital Ranchi for questioning and recording of his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).  The ED has arrested Soren's political aide Pankaj Mishra and two others -- local muscleman Bachhu Yadav and Prem Prakash -- in this case.  The agency has said it has "identified" proceeds of crime relating to illegal mining in the state to the tune of more than Rs 1,000 crore till now.