Ranchi, Sept 18: The Jharkhand High Court on Friday dismissed Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s plea challenging the rejection of his discharge petition in a money laundering case linked to 8.86 acres of land in Ranchi’s Bargain area.
The High Court’s decision leaves the Special PMLA Court free to proceed with the case. Soren had approached the High Court after the trial court rejected his discharge plea on June 8, holding that material placed before it disclosed a prima facie case at this stage.
The High Court had heard arguments from both sides on September 16 and reserved its order. Soren had sought a stay on proceedings before the Special PMLA Court while challenging the lower court’s order.
The case relates to alleged irregularities in the ownership, acquisition and transfer of 8.86 acres of land in the Bargain area. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that the land was acquired and transferred through fraudulent means as part of a wider money laundering investigation. Soren has denied the allegations and argued that there was insufficient evidence to proceed against him.
The ED has relied on documents, statements and other material collected during its investigation. The agency has maintained that the material provides grounds for the case to proceed, while Soren’s defence has disputed the allegations and the evidentiary basis against him.
The Special PMLA Court has already framed charges against several co-accused in the case, including Antu Tirkey and architect Vinod Kumar Singh. Reports said charges have been framed against 14 accused so far.
With the High Court declining to interfere with the trial court’s order, proceedings before the Special PMLA Court are set to continue. A hearing concerning the next stage of the case is scheduled for September 19.
The court’s decision does not amount to a finding of guilt against Soren. The allegations against him will be subject to adjudication in the judicial proceedings.
