PMLA Court Frames Charges Against Hemant Soren In 8.86-Acre Land Case

On Wednesday, a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi framed charges against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a money laundering case tied to 8.86 acres of land in Ranchi’s Bargain area. Soren appeared before the court via video conference.

Soren has rejected the allegations, describing them as unfounded and wrong. The framing of charges sets the stage for the trial. The trial is scheduled to begin on November 30.

Speaking to the media in Ranchi, Soren’s lawyer Sanjeev Sahay stated:

“We had filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging Section 44(1)(d), arguing that it is constitutionally unreasonable. The Honourable High Court has today issued notice regarding it. We claimed innocence.”

Soren Named 17th Accused in Land Case

Soren is the seventeenth person accused in the case; charges against the other sixteen have already been framed. The case involves 8.86 acres of land in Ranchi’s Bargain Circle, which investigators allege was obtained through falsified land documents and records. On January 31, 2024, the ED arrested Soren. He received bail in June 2024.

In his criminal writ petition filed before the Jharkhand High Court, Soren contended that charges should not be filed until the investigation was finished. That petition is still awaiting a ruling in court.

The charge-framing proceedings had earlier been deferred on September 24 after Soren’s counsel sought more time to examine documents supplied by the ED.