Delhi Tribunal Orders ED To Release BMW Car Seized From Ex-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's Delhi Residence

An appellate tribunal in Delhi recently directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to release a luxury BMW X7 vehicle seized from the residence of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in connection with an alleged land scam.The order, passed on September 25, 2025, by a coram of V Anandarajan, Member of the Appellate Tribunal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), ordered the release of the vehicle within 6 weeks observing that “Rapidly depreciating asset like a car cannot be allowed to be retained indefinitely based on a vague anticipation that further investigation may reveal that it represents proceeds of crime. Under the circumstances, the application for release of the car is allowed and the Directorate is directed to release the car to the appellant within six weeks.”The vehicle, a 2021 model BMW X7, was seized on January 29, 2024, during a raid conducted by the ED at Soren's Delhi residence as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of money laundering linked to a land scam in Jharkhand. The registered owner of the vehicle, Bhagwandas Holdings Pvt. Ltd., challenged the seizure, arguing that the company and its directors were neither named as accused in the ECIR nor in the prosecution complaints filed by the ED. Advocates Rohit Sharma and Rajesh Inamdar, appearing for the appellant, pointed out that despite nearly 21 months passing since the seizure, the ED failed to provide any evidence or initiate confiscation proceedings against the car. In its ruling, the Tribunal noted that the ED had been given “several opportunities” to justify the continued retention of the vehicle but failed to file a proper response or produce evidence linking the car to the alleged proceeds of crime. The Tribunal observed that neither the vehicle nor the company had been named in the prosecution complaints and dismissed the ED's arguments as “bland assertions.” It ordered the ED to release the vehicle within six weeks but imposed a condition on the appellant not to sell or otherwise dispose of the car for one year and to maintain it in running condition. The Tribunal also clarified that the ED would be free to take appropriate action in the future should any new evidence emerge.The appeal itself was disposed of, as all other seized items, including digital devices, had already been returned to the appellant through a previous order dated May 22, 2025.M/s Bhagwandas Holdings Pvt. Ltd. v The Deputy Director, Directorate of Enforcement, RanchiFPA-PMLA-1984/RNC/2024Date of decision: 25 September 2025For the Appellant: Advocates Rohit Sharma, Rajesh Inamdar, Ravanta Solanki, For the Respondent: Advocate Himanshu JainClick Here To Read/Download Order

Delhi Tribunal Orders ED To Release BMW Car Seized From Ex-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's Delhi Residence

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