The Jharkhand high court on Friday dismissed former chief minister Hemant Soren’s petition challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on money laundering charges involving a tribal land in Ranchi district. But, at the same time the Court granted temporary bail (in another petition) for one day to attend the shraadh ceremony of his uncle, Raja Ram Soren, who passed away last month.
A bench led by Justice R Mukhopadhyay granted his plea for interim relief while directing Soren to remain in judicial custody and prohibiting him from speaking to the media. On April 27, a special PMLA court dismissed Soren’s petition for interim bail. Soren sought permission to attend the last rites of his uncle, who was the elder brother of Shibu Soren.
In February this year, Soren had knocked the HC door challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Later, Soren moved the apex court due to the delay in the High Court’s verdict on his petition against the ED’s arrest, the High Court had reserved its order on February 28, 2024.
Sources said that Court had reserved its judgement on February 28. Thus the order came after 66 days since it was reserved.
The advocate citing the court’s order said that Soren had moved the Supreme Court on April 25 expressing his concern over delayed judgment. The top court then issued a notice to ED seeking the agency’s counter affidavit by May 6 on Soren’s bail plea, while also allowing the high court to pronounce its verdict. Thus, the order came eight days after he moved the apex court.
Soren, the former chief minister of Jharkhand, is under investigation for money laundering charges linked to an illegal mining case and an alleged land scam in Ranchi, the state’s capital. The ED is investigating both cases and alleges that approximately 8.5 acres of property involved constitute proceeds of crime. It has accused Soren of unauthorised possession and usage.
The ED alleges Soren’s direct involvement in the acquisition, possession, and use of the money from these activities. It is believed that he worked with others, like Bhanu Pratap Prasad, to hide the original papers and make it seem like the money was clean.
Sources said that additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju, representing the ED, stated to the high court that there was enough evidence against Soren for this plea to be denied.
Another high court advocate familiar with the argument said senior Supreme Court advocate Kapil Sibal presented his case virtually on behalf of Soren, while Advocate General Rajeev Ranjan and advocate Piyush Chitresh assisted him.
Sibal, appearing on behalf of Soren, said that this is not a case of a scheduled offence and no case of money laundering is made out against the former CM.
Soren was arrested on January 31 in a money laundering case involving the alleged illegal business of tribal land in Bargain.
