In a significant development, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been granted bail by the High Court. The decision is a relief for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader, who was arrested on January 31 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on money laundering charges.
“Bail is granted. “The court determined that, on the face of it, Hemant Soren is not guilty and there is no risk of him committing an offense while on bail,” explained Hemant Soren’s counsel, Arunabh Chowdhury. With no other cases pending against him now, Mr. Soren is expected to be released soon. Bail was granted upon payment of two sureties of ₹50,000 each.
The ED had accused Hemant Soren of running a scheme to manipulate records through fictitious transactions and forged documents to acquire 8.86 acres of land in Ranchi, valued at crores of rupees. Soren has consistently denied these charges, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating his arrest to derail the opposition just weeks before the Lok Sabha elections.
The bail order follows a series of legal setbacks for Soren. Last month, the High Court rejected a plea to quash his arrest, citing extensive documentation supporting the grounds for his arrest and remand. The Supreme Court also refused interim bail, which Soren had sought to campaign for his party and the Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc in the upcoming elections.
This development marks a crucial turn in Soren’s legal battle and political career, as he prepares to resume his activities amidst ongoing scrutiny.
