On February 3, a special court in Jharkhand granted permission for the detained former Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader, Hemant Soren, to attend the special session of the Jharkhand State Legislative Assembly scheduled for February 5.

The Court grants him permission to participate in the proceedings, including casting his vote in the crucial floor test for the government led by Chief Minister Champai Soren.

Upon an application submitted by Hemant Soren, seeking authorization to partake in the floor test, Special Judge Dinesh Rai issued the order. Hemant Soren had resigned from the position of Chief Minister of Jharkhand on January 31 following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). In the interim, Champai Soren of JMM assumed the role of the new Chief Minister and is obligated to demonstrate his majority on the legislative floor on February 5.

During the court proceedings, the State's Advocate General (AG) Rajeev Ranjan asserted that the objection raised by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Hemant Soren's participation in the floor test served as evidence suggesting that the investigative agency's motive was to destabilize the government. The AG implied that the ED's opposition to Soren's involvement in the crucial legislative process hinted at a broader intention to undermine the stability of the government in place.

It was argued that participating in the floor test is a fundamental right of the applicant, Soren, and this right should not be undermined by employing tactics such as initiating baseless cases and making arrests. The submission emphasized the importance of preserving the individual's right to vote in the floor test, asserting that it should not be curtailed through the use of unfounded legal actions.

The application further highlighted that, as a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the current Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha, Soren possesses the right to participate in the Special Session of the State Assembly. This underscored the assertion that his current status as an elected representative granted him the entitlement to be present and actively engage in the proceedings of the Special Session.

After considering the arguments presented, the special court granted permission to Soren, allowing him to take part in the special session and exercise his voting rights in the upcoming floor test.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has leveled accusations against Soren in a case related to a "significant racket involving the illegal alteration of land ownership by the mafia" in Jharkhand. In connection with this case, the agency recorded Soren's statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on January 20.

Up until now, the case has led to the arrest of more than a dozen individuals, including Chhavi Ranjan, a 2011-batch IAS officer who held positions as the Director of the State’s Social Welfare Department and Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi. On June 23, 2016, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Soren, Ranjan, nine other individuals, and three companies in connection with this case.