The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file a reply on the bail application moved by former chief minister Hemant Soren.
Soren, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam, filed the petition before the high court on Monday and requested an early hearing of the matter.
Appearing on behalf of Soren before a bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay, senior advocate Kapil Sibal pleaded that the JMM leader was a victim of political conspiracy.
The court directed the ED to file a response in the matter and set June 10 as the next date of the hearing.
Related Articles
Top 20 News
Names of Amit Shah, Kishan Reddy dropped from FIR in Hyderabad Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/03 at 4:12 pm Select Will decide based on SIT report, says CM on BJP’s demand for sacking Minister over charges Will decide based on SIT report, says CM on BJP’s demand for sacking Minister over charges Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, State Published 2024/06/03 at 3:43 pm Select PM Modi pays tributes to DMK stalwart Karunanidhi on 100th birth anniversary PM Modi pays tributes to DMK stalwart Karunanidhi on 100th birth anniversary Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/03 at 3:29 pm Select EC apprises SC about tentative schedule for by-election to Maniktala assembly constituency in Bengal EC apprises SC about tentative schedule for by-election to Maniktala assembly constituency in Bengal Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/03 at 3:07 pm Select Karnataka CM rubbishes exit polls, says Cong will win 15-20 seats in State Karnataka CM rubbishes exit polls, says Cong will win 15-20 seats in State Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 10, Big 40 News, State Published 2024/06/03 at 2:52 pm Select Shivamogga: Minor attacks man with machete in meat shop dispute Shivamogga: Minor attacks man with machete in meat shop dispute Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, State Published 2024/06/03 at 2:11 pm Select Posters of Bhindranwale put up in two UP gurdwaras five booked Posters of Bhindranwale put up in two UP gurdwaras five booked Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/03 at 1:51 pm Select SC bars YSRCP MLA accused of smashing EVM from entering counting station on June 4 SC bars YSRCP MLA accused of smashing EVM from entering counting station on June 4 Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/03 at 12:46 pm Select BJP leaders hold meeting on eve of LS poll counting BJP leaders hold meeting on eve of LS poll counting Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/03 at 12:31 pm Select Repolling underway in two booths in West Bengal Repolling underway in two booths in West Bengal Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/03 at 12:14 pm Select 2 BJP candidates move Calcutta HC, alleges fake cases filed to stop them from attending counting 2 BJP candidates move Calcutta HC, alleges fake cases filed to stop them from attending counting Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/03 at 11:56 am Select Excise case: Delhi court extends judicial custody of BRS leader Kavitha Excise case: Delhi court extends judicial custody of BRS leader Kavitha Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/03 at 11:41 am Select Uddhav will join Modi govt in 15 days after LS poll results, claims MLA Ravi Rana Uddhav will join Modi govt in 15 days after LS poll results, claims MLA Ravi Rana Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/03 at 11:00 am Select PM Modi says need to work quickly on scale, scope, standards to make country ‘Viksit Bharat’ PM Modi says need to work quickly on scale, scope, standards to make country ‘Viksit Bharat’ Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/03 at 10:57 am Select Home Minister Shah calling up DMs and collectors, indulging in ‘brazen intimidation’: Cong Home Minister Shah calling up DMs and collectors, indulging in ‘brazen intimidation’: Cong Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/01 at 6:26 pm Select INDIA bloc to get over 295 seats: Kharge after alliance meeting INDIA bloc to get over 295 seats: Kharge after alliance meeting Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/01 at 6:14 pm Select Ritual involving animal sacrifice performed not at Kerala temple, but nearby, claims Shivakumar Ritual involving animal sacrifice performed not at Kerala temple, but nearby, claims Shivakumar Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, State Published 2024/06/01 at 5:45 pm Select Shri Somnath a symbol of pride in Sanatan culture: Amit Shah Shri Somnath a symbol of pride in Sanatan culture: Amit Shah Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/01 at 5:16 pm Select Excise policy case: Court reserves for June 5 order on Kejriwal’s interim bail plea Excise policy case: Court reserves for June 5 order on Kejriwal’s interim bail plea Edit | Quick Edit | Trash | View Sharanya Alva Big 40 News, National Published 2024/06/01 at 5:08 pm Select Woman kidnap case: Bhavani Revanna keeps SIT sleuths waiting Woman kidnap case: Bhavani Revanna keeps SIT sleuths waiting
In his petition, Soren pleaded before the court that his name does not figure in any of the documents about 8.5 acres of land in the Bargain circle and no offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act is made out against him.
Advertisement
He also claimed that the ED was relying only on statements of some people who had said that the land parcel belonged to him, but there was ”no document to back such statements”.
Soren had resigned as the chief minister before his arrest on January 31 and is now lodged in the Birsa Munda Jail at Hotwar in state capital Ranchi.
He was accused of being instrumental in tampering with land documents for a plot in Bargain in Ranchi.
Soren pleaded that the owner of the land was one Raj Kumar Pahan who had complained to the office of the Bargain Circle officer that his land was being encroached on by some persons.
Pahan had nowhere mentioned the name of Hemant Soren, yet the ED had brought about a case that the land was in the possession of Soren, the petition added.
Soren had on May 22 failed to get any relief from the Supreme Court which pulled him up for ”suppressing material facts” in the plea against his arrest in the money laundering case linked to the alleged land scam.
A vacation bench of justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma allowed Soren’s counsel Kapil Sibal to withdraw the pleas for interim bail for Lok Sabha poll campaigning and against his arrest after the apex court indicated that it would dismiss them as Soren had not approached the court with clean hands.
The court pointed out that Soren did not apprise it of the April 4 order of the special PMLA court taking cognisance of the prosecution complaint, and also that his regular bail petition was filed on April 15 and dismissed on May 13