Hemant Soren Released on Bail in Land Scam Case

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren was granted bail by the High Court today in a significant development related to a money laundering case linked to a land scam. Soren, who had been in custody at Birsa Munda jail since January 31 following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was released on a bail bond of ₹50,000 along with two sureties of the same amount. The court, in its decision, indicated that prima facie there was no evidence of his guilt in the alleged offence.

The ED had opposed Soren’s bail plea, arguing that he could misuse his influence to obstruct the investigation, citing his previous attempts to allegedly shield himself using state machinery. The agency claimed that Soren’s involvement stemmed from plans to construct a banquet hall on disputed land in Jharkhand, with evidence allegedly linking him through communications with his architect. In response, Soren’s legal team, including senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Meenakshi Arora, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, accusing the central government of malicious prosecution.

Soren, who addressed reporters upon his release, described the past five months as challenging for Jharkhand and reiterated his stance that the case against him was driven by political vendetta. The court’s detailed order on the bail is awaited as the legal battle surrounding this high-profile case continues to unfold.

This development marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal and political saga surrounding Hemant Soren, a prominent figure in Jharkhand’s political landscape.

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