Jharkhand HC grants bail to ex-CM Hemant Soren in money laundering case

Ranchi:  Former Jharkhand chief minister Heamnt Soren on Friday was released from the Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Jail hours after the Jharkhand high court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to a land scam. Alleging a conspiracy behind his arrest, Mr Soren claimed that he was falsely implicated and that he was forced to spend five months in jail for raising a voice against the Central government.

Granting bail to the former Jharkhand CM, the order of the single bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay said, "...The petitioner is directed to be released on bail on furnishing a bail bond of `50,000 with two sureties of the like amount each."

Mr Soren, the executive president of the JMM, was arrested by the ED on January 31 in connection with its investigation into the money laundering case. He was released from Ranchi's Birsa Munda Jail around 4 pm after the completion of legal formalities.

"The court has held that prima facie he is not guilty of the offence and there is no likelihood of the petitioner committing an offence when on bail," Mr Soren's senior counsel Arunabh Chowdhury said.

Earlier during the hearing, ED's counsel S.V. Raju argued that if Mr Soren is released on bail, he might commit a similar offence, referring to cases against ED officers in the SC/ST police station.

"Though the conduct of the petitioner has been sought to be highlighted by the Enforcement Directorate on account of the FIR instituted by the petitioner against the officials of the ED, on an overall conspectus of the case, there is no likelihood of the petitioner committing a similar nature of offence," the court said.

The single bench order also mentioned that the consequence of the findings recorded by the court "satisfies the condition as at Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 to the effect that there is reason to believe that the petitioner is not guilty of the offence as alleged".

It also mentioned: "The overall conspectus of the case based on broad possibilities does not specifically or indirectly assign the petitioner to be involved in the acquisition and possession as well as concealment of 8.86 acres of land in Shantinagar, Bargain, Ranchi connected to the "proceeds of crime."

Arguments from both Mr Soren's defence team and the Enforcement Directorate had concluded on June 13, following which the court had reserved its order.

After the high bail order, ED counsel Zoheb Hossain requested a stay on the implementation of the order for 48 hours so that it can move the Supreme Court against the order. The high court rejected the ED plea.

After his release, Mr Soren said, "I respect the judiciary. The court delivered its order and I am out on bail. But the judicial process is long."

In a veiled attack on the BJP, Mr Soren said he is concerned about how the voices of political leaders, social workers and journalists are being silenced in the country.

Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee welcomed the court's order granting bail to Mr Soren.

The Jharkhand chief minister termed the high court's order a victory of truth and also posted a photograph with the former chief minister.
As Mr Soren stepped out of jail, a large number of JMM supporters cheered and raised slogans in favour of him. His wife Kalpana Soren, a JMM legislator, thanked the judiciary. The party workers were seen distributing sweets among themselves.

The JMM-led ruling alliance in Jharkhand hailed the court's order granting bail to the former chief minister of the state. Expressing his happiness, Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur posted a part of the popular Hindi song "Haste haste kat jaye raste, zindagi yun hi chalti rahe" on the microblogging site.