The Jharkhand High Court granted bail to former Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a money laundering case tied to a land scam, following extensive legal proceedings. His lawyer, Arunabh Chowdhury, confirmed the court’s decision, stating that Soren had been acquitted of the charges on the grounds of lack of evidence and no foreseeable risk of committing further offences while on bail. Soren, currently held at Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi, is also the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
Soren’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 stemmed from allegations that he had misused his authority to acquire 8.86 acres of land in the state capital. The ED claimed that witnesses had attested to Soren’s involvement in the illicit land deal, with his media consultant, Abhishek Prasad, admitting to manipulating official records at Soren’s instruction.
The legal battle saw senior advocate Meenakshi Arora arguing that Soren was unfairly targeted in a politically motivated case, asserting that the allegations pertained to civil disputes over property rights rather than criminal offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Soren’s legal team, led by Kapil Sibal, contended that the prosecution’s motives were suspect, aimed at prolonging his incarceration.
The bail decision arrived amid a complex legal landscape, contrasting with recent events involving Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail in a separate case. Kejriwal’s bail order was later stayed by the Delhi High Court, followed by his subsequent arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Meanwhile, on the investigative front, the ED seized Rs 1 crore in cash and 100 live bullet rounds during raids in Ranchi on June 22, further linking to the ongoing probe into the alleged money laundering scheme associated with land grabbing. Over 25 individuals, including Soren and former Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan, have been ensnared in the extensive investigation.
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The developments underscore a backdrop of legal complexities and high-profile arrests, shaping the narrative of governance and accountability in the region’s political and legal spheres.
