A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi on Wednesday framed charges against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a money laundering case linked to an alleged 8.86-acre land transaction in Ranchi’s Bargayin area, clearing the way for the trial to begin.
Soren appeared before the court through video conferencing. His lawyer, Sanjeev Sahay, confirmed that charges had been framed and that the matter would now proceed to trial.
The development came after the Jharkhand High Court declined to grant Soren relief in his challenge to the proceedings before the special PMLA court. He had sought a stay on the framing of charges and requested that the process be deferred until the Enforcement Directorate’s investigation was concluded.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice MS Sonak and Justice Manoj Prasad heard the matter. Senior Advocate S Nagamuthu appeared for Soren, while ASGI SV Raju, Senior Advocate Amit Kumar Das and Advocate Saurabh Kumar represented the ED through video conferencing.
ED’s Allegations
The case concerns an 8.86-acre parcel of land in Ranchi’s Bargayin area. The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that the property was illegally acquired and transferred through manipulation of land records and the use of forged documents.
The agency has linked the alleged land transactions to its wider money laundering investigation.
Soren has denied the allegations and maintained that they are baseless. The allegations will now be examined during the trial through evidence and arguments from the prosecution and defence.
Proceedings Against Other Accused
According to the case details, 17 people have been named as accused following the ED investigation. The special PMLA court had already completed the process of framing charges against several other accused in separate stages, while the proceedings against Soren had remained pending.
The case involves allegations of fraudulent land transactions, manipulation of official records and use of forged documents.
Arrest and Bail
Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31, 2024, in connection with the land-linked money laundering case after resigning as Chief Minister.
The Jharkhand High Court later granted him bail, and he was released from Birsa Munda jail on June 28, 2024.
With charges now framed against him, the case will move to the trial stage before the special PMLA court, where the prosecution will present evidence and examine witnesses and the defence will be given an opportunity to contest the allegations.
