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

Ranchi (Jharkhand): The Jharkhand High Court on Friday granted bail to former Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a money laundering case linked to land scam.

The high court had on June 13 reserved its decision on Soren’s bail plea.

“Bail has been granted to Soren. 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,” Soren’s senior counsel Arunabh Chowdhury told PTI.

“Heman Soren was released from the jail after completion of legal formalities,” the official said.

Soren, on his release from the jail, was seen waving at people and seeking blessings from his father and JMM supremo Shibu Soren.

A single bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay granted bail to the former chief minister of Jharkhand earlier in the day.

“…The petitioner is directed to be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs 50,000 with two sureties of the like amount each,” said the order passed by Justice Mukhopadhyay.

Soren, the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with its investigation into the money laundering case.