Ranchi: Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren walked out of Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi on Friday following the Jharkhand High Court's decision to grant him bail in a money laundering case related to a land scam. Soren was greeted by enthusiastic Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leaders and supporters with loud slogans as he emerged from prison alongside his wife, Kalpana Soren.

After his release, he paid a visit to his father, former Chief Minister Shibu Soren, and his mother, Roopi Soren. Sharing photographs of the reunion, he posted on social media, "Greetings to everyone from Jharkhand!" Over 25 individuals, including Soren, former Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan, IAS officer Bhanu Pratap Prasad, and others, were arrested by the Enforcement Directorate during the investigation into the case.

Upon his arrest, Soren vehemently refuted the allegations of land grabbing, attributing the money laundering charges against him to a political vendetta orchestrated by the BJP-led central government. He was apprehended on January 31 from Ranchi Raj Bhavan shortly after tendering his resignation as Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

On June 22, the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids in Ranchi, seizing Rs 1 crore in cash and 100 live bullets as part of the investigation into the alleged money laundering associated with the land scam case involving Soren and others. Shortly after Soren was granted bail, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her delight with the development.

"Hemant Soren, a significant tribal leader and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, had to step down due to a legal case, but today he has been granted bail by the Hon'ble High Court! I am very pleased with this significant development and am confident that he will resume his public engagements immediately," Mamata Banerjee commented.

"Welcome back, Hemant, among us!," she added. Meanwhile, celebrations ensued at Soren's residence in Ranchi with the distribution of sweets following the news of his bail in the land scam case. 

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma Set Record for Highest Opening Partnership in Women's Test Cricket

Manipur BJP Chief Urges Immediate Action from Amit Shah Amid Ongoing Unrest

India Rejects US State Department's 2023 Report on Religious Freedom as "Deeply Biased"