Jharkhand HC seeks ED reply on CM’s discharge plea

The Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday directed the ED to file a reply to Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s petition challenging a Special PMLA court’s rejection of his petition that sought discharge from criminal proceedings in connection with a land deal case.

The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case in connection with the alleged illegal acquisition and transfer of 8.86 acres of land in the Bargain area of Ranchi.

Soren moved the high court on August 31 after his discharge petition was rejected by the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on June 8. A discharge petition is a formal request made by an accused person asking a trial court to drop a criminal case before formal charges are framed.

Soren’s counsel sought that the high court stay the proceedings in the lower court. However, the high court did not allow it and ordered the ED to file a response in the matter.

The case will again be heard on September 16. According to the allegations, the land was fraudulently transferred in favour of Soren, who denied the allegation.

The Special PMLA court has already framed charges against co-accused Antu Tirkey, architect Vinod Kumar Singh and 15 others.