PMLA Court Rejects Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's Discharge Plea In Money Laundering Case

A Special Court at Ranchi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Tuesday rejected Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's discharge petition in a money laundering case linked to 8.86 acres of land in Ranchi's Badgai area.

The Court held that prima facie material existed for trial.

Soren had filed the discharge petition in December last year, contending that the allegations against him were baseless and unsupported by adequate evidence. He argued that he had been unnecessarily implicated in the case and that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) did not possess concrete evidence warranting his prosecution.

The ED opposed the application, submitting that the evidence and documents collected during the investigation were sufficient for the matter to proceed to trial. The agency urged the court to reject the discharge plea and continue with the proceedings.

Accepting the ED's contention at this stage of the case, the court found that the material on record justified continuation of the prosecution.

The case concerns alleged money laundering connected to 8.86 acres of land situated in Ranchi's Badgai area. The ED has been investigating the matter under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Soren was arrested in the case on January 31. 2024, and remained under custody till June 28, 2024, when the High Court granted him bail. While giving him bail, the High Court had made a prima facie observation that there was no reason to believe that Soren was guilty.