National Desk, 15th February: In a significant development, a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court has ordered the judicial custody of former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Hemant Soren, in connection with a money laundering case. Soren, who currently serves as the executive president of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, was previously under the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Advocate General Rajeev Ranjan, representing Soren, confirmed the court’s decision, stating, “Soren was presented in the special PMLA court today and has been remanded to judicial custody until February 22. We intend to file a bail application for him.”
The enforcement authorities apprehended Soren on January 31, following which he was taken directly to Birsa Munda Central Jail at Hotwar in Ranchi from the court premises. Initially granted a five-day custody by the court on February 2, the ED’s custody of Soren was subsequently extended twice, resulting in a total period of seven days.