Today, On 13th May, A special court rejected the bail plea of Hemant Soren, former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, in a money laundering case. The case involves allegations of financial impropriety and illegal transactions. Soren filed the bail application citing various grounds, but the court found them insufficient.
Ranchi: A specialized Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court, On Monday, in Ranchi denied the bail request of Hemant Soren, the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Soren arrested on January 31 in connection with an alleged land grab and money laundering case. Official sources confirmed the court’s decision.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to respond by May 17 to Soren’s plea challenging his arrest in the money laundering case.
Soren filed a petition with the Supreme Court, contesting the Jharkhand High Court’s May 3 ruling that dismissed his previous petition against the arrest. Additionally, Soren had requested interim bail to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections until the court reaches a verdict on his plea against the arrest.
The Ranchi PMLA court also rejected Soren’s bail plea on Monday.
Soren, a prominent leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), arrested by the ED on January 31, accused of illegally acquiring 8.86 acres of land in Ranchi with the assistance of certain state government officials and others.
In another development, the special court extended the ED‘s custody of Sanjeev Kumar Lal, the former personal secretary of state rural development minister Alamgir Alam, and Lal’s domestic help Jahangir Alam by an additional five days. The two individuals arrested by the agency last week as part of a money laundering investigation related to alleged irregularities and the exchange of bribes within the rural development department.
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Alamgir Alam summoned by the ED to provide a statement at their office in Ranchi on May 14.
The court’s decision to deny bail reflects the serious nature of the allegations and the evidence presented by the ED. It highlights the judiciary’s stringent stance on corruption and financial crimes, especially involving public officials at high levels. The court, while denying bail, likely considered factors such as the gravity of the offenses, the potential for tampering with evidence, and the influence Soren may retain influence despite no longer holding office.