The ED claims that the Jharkhand High Court’s decision to grant Soren bail was “illegal” and that the court had “erred” in determining that there was no prima facie case against the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader
NEW DELHI: On Monday (8th July): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) approached the Supreme Court to challenge the bail granted to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The ED claims that the Jharkhand High Court’s decision to grant Soren bail was “illegal” and that the court had “erred” in determining that there was no prima facie case against the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader.
Soren was released from Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi on June 28 after receiving bail in a money laundering case related to a land scam. Following his release, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM leader Champai Soren resigned from his position.
Hemant Soren subsequently moved a confidence motion in the Assembly, won the trust vote, and resumed his role as Chief Minister.
READ ALSO: BREAKING | Ex-CM Hemant Soren Granted Bail by Jharkhand HC
Soren had been arrested on January 31 at the Ranchi Raj Bhavan after resigning as Chief Minister. He, along with over 25 others, including IAS officer and former Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan and Bhanu Pratap Prasad, were arrested by the ED in connection with the land scam earlier this year. Soren has denied the charges, alleging that the money laundering case was a political vendetta orchestrated by the BJP-led central Government.
Soren, who is the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 as part of their investigation into the money laundering allegations. Since his arrest, the 48-year-old politician has been held in Birsa Munda jail.
During the bail hearing, the Enforcement Directorate’s counsel, SV Raju, contended that granting Soren bail could result in him committing a similar offense again. This argument was part of the prosecution’s broader effort to prevent Soren from being released.
Despite the ED’s concerns, the court’s decision ultimately favored Soren, allowing him to be released on bail.
The ED has been probing various cases in Jharkhand, including illegal mining, a 2009 MGNREGA scam, and the alleged illegal sale and purchase of an Army plot in Ranchi. During the investigation into the Army land, the name of Bhanu Pratap Prasad, then revenue sub-inspector of Bargaain Circle Office, surfaced and was eventually linked to Soren.
This information was shared with the then Chief Secretary of State, leading to an FIR being registered on June 1 of the previous year. This FIR led to the registration of the ECIR—ED’s equivalent of an FIR—in which Soren was arrested.
READ ALSO: Hemant Soren Ex-Jharkhand CM Remanded to Judicial Custody in Money Laundering Case
The ED alleges that Soren was among those who conspired with Bhanu Pratap to take over properties. The agency claims that details of the illegally acquired properties were found on Bhanu Pratap’s mobile phone. While Prasad was in custody, his phone’s data revealed several chats related to cash transactions and illegal benefits to others in acquiring land.
Responding to the ED summons, Hemant Soren stated in a letter that the 8.5 acres had been “wrongfully alleged to be owned” by him, asserting that the plot was actually ‘Bhuinhari’ land, which, under the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, cannot be transferred to anyone.
In his plea, Hemant Soren suggested a pattern in the ED’s actions, claiming that the agency is targeting opposition political leaders with “fabricated allegations.”
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