Ranchi: Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren withdrew his plea from the Supreme Court on Tuesday. His plea challenged a high court order denying him permission to attend the budget session of the state assembly. Soren withdrew the plea as it had become irrelevant due to the conclusion of the assembly session. Nevertheless, Soren's counsel, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, urged the court to maintain the question of law open.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and KV Vishwanathan agreed to keep the legal questions open concerning the issues raised. The court permitted Soren to retract his plea contesting the Jharkhand High Court's order regarding his attendance at assembly sessions. The Jharkhand High Court had dismissed Soren's petition on February 28. Soren subsequently approached the Supreme Court against this High Court ruling. Earlier, his petition was dismissed by the Special Court in Ranchi on February 22.

Soren was arrested on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case related to an alleged land scam under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Following his questioning by the ED in the alleged land scam case, he tendered his resignation as CM to the Jharkhand Governor.

The ED claimed to have seized cash exceeding Rs 36 lakh from the possession of the JMM chief, along with documents linked to the investigation into the alleged acquisition of land through fraudulent means. The agency also alleged that land parcels spanning 8.5 acres were part of the criminal proceeds acquired by the former CM.

During a raid conducted on April 13, 2023, the ED purportedly discovered several property-related records and registers in the possession of Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad. The agency asserted that Bhanu Pratap Prasad and others were part of a large syndicate involved in corrupt practices of forcefully acquiring properties or acquiring them based on false deeds.

"The agency stated in a release, "Considering the facts and circumstances and taking into consideration the activities and processes of money laundering in which Soren is directly involved and is also a party with the said Bhanu Pratap and others, there are sufficient reasons to believe that Soren is guilty of the offence of money laundering as per section 3 of PMLA 2002."

The investigation focuses on the proceeds of crime generated by allegedly forging official records, showing fake sellers and purchasers through forged or bogus documents to acquire large parcels of land valued in crores.

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