In a significant legal development, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren presented himself before a special court in Ranchi on Saturday, December 6. His appearance came in connection with a case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly ignoring multiple summonses related to a purported land scam investigation.
Court Appearance Follows High Court Direction
The Chief Minister's court visit was not voluntary but a mandated compliance with an order from the Jharkhand High Court. Earlier in the week, the High Court had provided partial relief to Soren by exempting him from personal appearances in the future for this specific case. However, the court had recorded an undertaking from the CM, requiring him to appear in person on this one occasion, December 6.
Soren had previously challenged the lower court's order that directed his personal appearance, leading to the High Court's intervention. Following his appearance, his lawyer stated that the Chief Minister furnished two bail bonds, each worth Rs 7,000, as part of the court's procedure.
The ED's Allegations and Legal Proceedings
The Enforcement Directorate initiated the legal action after alleging that Hemant Soren failed to cooperate with their investigation. The federal probe agency claimed that despite issuing several notices to the Chief Minister for questioning in the alleged land scam case, he did not appear before them.
Subsequently, the ED approached the MP-MLA court in Ranchi, which then issued the summons for Soren's appearance. The case revolves around allegations of a large-scale land fraud in the state, which the ED is investigating under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
In a parallel development, the Jharkhand High Court on Thursday directed the ED to file its reply to a separate petition from Soren. In this petition, the Chief Minister has challenged the very validity of the summonses issued to him by the investigating agency in the land scam case.
What Happens Next?
With Saturday's appearance complete, Soren's legal team confirmed that he will not be required to be physically present in court for the upcoming hearings. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for December 12. On that date, the Chief Minister's counsel will represent him before the MP-MLA court.
This legal tussle marks a critical point in the ongoing investigation and has drawn significant political attention in Jharkhand. The outcome of the December 12 hearing and the High Court's proceedings on Soren's petition against the ED summons are now keenly awaited.
