The Jharkhand High Court on Friday dismissed former Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s plea against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the land scam case.
A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Navneet Kumar dismissed his plea 4 days after the Supreme Court, posting Soren’s plea against ED Arrest in the week commencing from May 6, observed that it would be open to the High Court to pronounce the verdict in the matter.
Notably, Hemant Soren had approached the Supreme Court, stating that the High Court’s delay in pronouncing the verdict on his plea challenging ED arrest. The judgment in the petition was reserved by the High Court on February 28, 2024.
The former Jharkhand Chief Minister has been under custody since his arrest by the ED on January 31. Later on February 2, the Supreme Court refused to entertain his previous petition challenging the ED arrest and asked him to approach the High Court instead.
Nonetheless, Hemant Soren has been granted interim bail in another petition for one day to attend the Shraddh ceremony of his uncle, Raja Ram Soren who passed away last month.
A bench comprising Justice R. Mukhopadhyay permitted his plea for interim relief while ordering Soren to remain in judicial custody and that he wouldn’t be allowed to speak to the media.
A special PMLA court on April 27 dismissed Hemant Soren’s interim bail petition. Former Chief Minister Soren sought to attend the last rites of his uncle, Shibu Soren’s elder brother.
The former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, is being probed for money laundering charges in connection with an illegal mining case and an alleged land scam in Ranchi, the state’s capital. The nodal agency is investigating both cases and submitted that approximately 8.5 acres of property in question constitute proceeds of crime. Furthermore, it has charged Soren with unauthorised possession and usage.
The ED alleged Soren’s direct involvement in the acquisition, possession, and utilisation of these proceeds, accusing him of colluding with others, including Bhanu Pratap Prasad, in concealing original records to portray the acquired property as untainted.
In September 2023, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chairperson moved the Supreme Court against summonses by ED in connection with the money laundering case. Nonetheless, the top court expressed disinclination to entertain the matter, mentioning the alternative remedy available under Article 226 of the Constitution. Subsequently, Soren agreed to withdraw his plea.