The request by former Chief Minister Hemant Soren to participate in the upcoming Budget Session of the Jharkhand Assembly, scheduled from February 23 to March 2, was declined by the Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) court in Ranchi on Thursday. Soren, currently in judicial custody due to a land scam case, will remain in detention until further orders from the court.
The decision came after the PMLA court, presided over by Dinesh Rai, reserved its ruling following a hearing on Wednesday. Despite arguments made by Advocate General Rajeev Ranjan, who emphasized the significance of Soren's presence as a legislator during the Budget Session, the court rejected the plea.
Ranjan highlighted the importance of Soren's attendance during the session where the Money Bill was presented. He pointed out precedents where other legislators, including Dhullu Mahto and Nalin Soren, were permitted to attend proceedings despite being in judicial custody.
In opposition to the plea, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) counsel, during the Wednesday hearing, contended that while Hemant Soren's presence was crucial on February 5 for a floor test, his participation in the Budget session was unnecessary since he wouldn't be exercising voting rights as an MLA.
Notably, the PMLA court had previously granted permission for Hemant Soren to attend the Special Session of the Jharkhand Assembly on February 5, where Chief Minister Champai Soren secured a majority.
Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED on January 31 for non-compliance with a summons related to a land scam case. The ED, in its remand petition, presented WhatsApp chats between Soren and his associate architect Vinod Singh, revealing alleged plans for constructing a banquet hall on an 8.5-acre land in Ranchi. The ED asserted that these chats contained sensitive information, including details on various properties, transfer postings, and government records, potentially involving significant financial transactions.
Additionally, the ED highlighted Vinod Singh's WhatsApp communications with others regarding transfer postings of officials, possession and sharing of admit cards for exams conducted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission, among other matters.
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