On Wednesday, the Jharkhand High Court granted Chief Minister Hemant Soren exemption from appearing in person before the MP/MLA court in Ranchi in a case concerning his failure to comply with summonses issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). 

Justice Anil Kumar Chaudhary, while hearing Soren’s petition, directed that he be excused from appearing before the judicial magistrate until the next hearing. The case is scheduled for December 16, and Soren is relieved from attending the MP/MLA court until then.

The court also granted the ED a week to submit a response through a counter affidavit. The ED had filed a complaint against Soren for his repeated non-appearance despite multiple summonses related to an alleged money laundering case tied to a land scam.

The judicial magistrate had ordered Soren to personally appear before the court on December 4. However, Soren challenged the order in the high court, citing his official duties and commitments as reasons for his inability to attend. In response, the ED argued that Soren had been summoned seven times but failed to cooperate with the investigation.

The complaint against Chief Minister Hemant Soren was filed by Devraj Jha, the Assistant Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), for his failure to appear before the authorities in connection with his alleged involvement in a land scam.

Earlier, the MP/MLA court, presided over by Judicial Magistrate Sarthak Sharma, had rejected Soren’s petition seeking exemption from personal appearance and directed him to appear physically. However, after hearing arguments from both sides, the Jharkhand High Court granted Soren’s request and exempted him from appearing in person before the MP/MLA court.

Soren, who is the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was arrested by the ED on January 31, shortly after resigning as Chief Minister. He regained the position after the High Court granted him bail in June. Following the assembly elections, Soren was sworn in as Chief Minister again on November 28.