The Jharkhand High Court Today (Dec 4) exempted Chief Minister Hemant Soren from personal appearance before the MP/MLA court in Ranchi in a case related to disobeying summonses by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The Court gave a week’s time to the Enforcement Directorate to file a reply in the case. The case will be heard again on December 16 and till then Soren was exempted from personally appearing before the MP/MLA court.
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RANCHI: The Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday granted Chief Minister Hemant Soren exemption from personal appearance before the MP/MLA court in Ranchi. This relief comes in connection with a case involving the alleged disobedience of summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The high court also provided the ED with a week’s time to file its reply in the matter.
The next hearing is scheduled for December 16, and until then, Soren is not required to personally appear before the MP/MLA court.
ED’s Allegations Against Hemant Soren
The ED had filed a complaint against Hemant Soren in the judicial magistrate’s court, alleging his repeated failure to respond to several summonses. These were related to an investigation into alleged money laundering linked to a land scam.
Despite being summoned multiple times, the chief minister reportedly did not appear before the agency, which prompted the ED to take the matter to court.
The judicial magistrate had earlier ordered Soren to appear in person before the MP/MLA court on December 4.
However, the chief minister contested this order in the high court, citing his “official commitments and engagements” as the reason for his inability to comply.
High Court’s Decision
During the hearing, the ED opposed Soren’s plea, arguing that he had been issued “seven summonses” but had consistently failed to appear, thereby not cooperating with the investigation.
After considering submissions from both sides, the high court decided in Soren’s favor, granting him exemption from personal appearance before the MP/MLA court.
Background of the Case
The case stems from allegations of money laundering linked to a controversial land scam.
Hemant Soren, who is also the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), has had a contentious relationship with the ED over this issue.
In a dramatic turn of events, he was arrested by the ED on January 31 in connection with the money laundering case, shortly after resigning as the chief minister. However, after securing bail from the high court in June, Soren returned to power.
Soren’s Political Comeback
Hemant Soren was re-elected as the chief minister after the Jharkhand Assembly elections and was sworn in on November 28. This case and its associated legal battles have added to the challenges of his second term in office, as he continues to face scrutiny over the allegations.
The high court’s decision to exempt him from personal appearance, even temporarily, provides Soren with some relief as the matter proceeds.
However, the ED’s persistence in pressing charges indicates that the legal battle is far from over.
The next hearing on December 16 will be a crucial milestone in this high-profile case.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Hemant Soren
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