In a significant relief to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the Jharkhand High Court on Monday prolonged the exemption granted to him from appearing personally before the MP/MLA court in Ranchi. This decision comes amid ongoing proceedings in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam, for which the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been a key investigator.
Justice Anil Kumar Chaudhary, presiding over the bench, extended the exemption until December 16, allowing the Chief Minister to skip the mandatory court appearance initially scheduled for December 4. The court also allotted an additional week for the ED to submit their counter affidavit in response to the matter.
The origin of these proceedings traces back to a complaint lodged by the ED against Soren for repeatedly failing to appear before the judicial magistrate, despite receiving multiple summonses. The agency accused Soren of non-cooperation in the investigation concerning the alleged land scam, which prompted a judicial directive for his personal appearance.
In response, Soren approached the high court, citing his inability to attend the court due to pressing official duties and engagements. His legal challenge aimed to overturn the lower court’s order, which the high court acknowledged by granting the exemption extension.
