Hemant Soren Sent To Judicial Custody For A Day, Next Hearing Tomorrow

The ED has requested a 10-day remand for former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, but the decision is pending as the court has reserved its order; the next hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.

File Photo Of Hemant Soren

Source : PTI Images

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday sought a 10-day remand for former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, following his arrest in connection with a money laundering case. The court, however, deferred its decision, with the next hearing scheduled for tomorrow, February 2. Hemant Soren, the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), appeared before a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi today, where he has been placed under judicial custody for one day.

#UPDATE | ED demands 10 days remand of former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren but the order has been reserved; next hearing to take place tomorrow https://t.co/mLq3U3QLWQ

— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2024

Soren was brought before the PMLA court in Ranchi by the Enforcement Directorate, who had deployed heavy security. Hemant Soren has been sent to judicial custody for one day.

#WATCH | Former Jharkhand CM and JMM executive president Hemant Soren leaves from PMLA Court in Ranchi.

Hemant Soren has been sent to judicial custody for one day. pic.twitter.com/jMz4yAveLm

— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2024

Earlier on Wednesday, Soren filed an FIR against ED personnel for searches conducted at his Delhi residence on Monday, according to officials.

According to the FIR, Soren claimed that the ED conducted the search to "harass and malign him and his entire community".

Soren filed a petition with the Jharkhand High Court late at night, PTI reported citing party sources. However, the reason he moved to court was unknown. 

The JMM leader is accused of money laundering for allegedly illegally possessing certain immovable assets, in addition to his purported links with members of the 'land mafia'.

The investigation is linked to a "huge racket of illegal land ownership change by the mafia" in Jharkhand, according to the central probe agency.

The ED has arrested 14 people in the case, including Chhavi Ranjan, a 2011-batch IAS officer who was the director of the state's Social Welfare Department and Ranchi's deputy commissioner.