Jharkhand HC Seeks ED Reply on Hemant Soren’s Plea in Land Deal Case

The Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file its response to Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s petition challenging the rejection of his discharge plea in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land deal in Ranchi.

Soren had approached the high court on August 31 after a Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court rejected his discharge petition on June 8. The case concerns the alleged illegal acquisition and transfer of 8.86 acres of land in the Bargain area of Ranchi.

A discharge petition is a formal plea by an accused seeking to have criminal proceedings dropped before charges are formally framed.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Soren’s counsel sought a stay on proceedings before the lower court. However, the high court did not grant the relief and instead directed the ED to file its response to the petition.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 16.

The ED’s money laundering case is based on allegations that the land was fraudulently transferred in favour of Soren. The Jharkhand chief minister has denied the allegations.

The Special PMLA court has already framed charges against Antu Tirkey, architect Vinod Kumar Singh and 15 other accused in connection with the case.

Soren’s challenge before the high court seeks relief against the lower court’s decision refusing to discharge him from the criminal proceedings. The ED’s response is expected to set out its position on the allegations and the continuation of proceedings against the chief minister.

The case is part of the ED’s wider probe into alleged fraudulent land transactions in Jharkhand. The high court’s next hearing on September 16 is expected to determine the course of Soren’s challenge to the PMLA court order.

For now, the lower court proceedings remain in place, with the high court declining to grant a stay at this stage.