Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren suffered a legal setback on Monday after a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi rejected his discharge petition in the alleged money laundering case linked to the Bargain land matter. The case pertains to alleged irregularities in land ownership and transfer in Ranchi’s Bargain circle, which the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claims were used to facilitate money laundering.
As part of its investigation, the federal agency had questioned Soren on multiple occasions and arrested him in January 2024. He was later granted bail.
In his discharge petition, Soren had argued that there was insufficient evidence against him and sought to be released from the proceedings. His counsel contended that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case warranting further trial.
However, the special PMLA court declined to accept the plea and dismissed the petition. The court’s decision means that it has found sufficient prima facie grounds for the case to proceed, paving the way for the framing of charges and subsequent judicial proceedings.
The rejection of the discharge plea does not amount to a finding of guilt but indicates that the court believes there is enough material on record for the trial to continue.
The case carries significant political implications in Jharkhand, as it directly involves the sitting Chief Minister. Soren and his party have consistently maintained that the action against him is politically motivated and part of a larger campaign of vendetta.
The ED, on the other hand, has maintained that its investigation is focused solely on alleged financial irregularities and money laundering linked to the land transactions.
With the discharge petition now rejected, the matter is expected to move to the next stage of legal proceedings before the special court.
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