Jharkhand High Court today recorded arguments in favour and against the arrest of Hemant Soren, ex-CM, Jharkhand. 

The hearing will continue on February 28. The legality of Soren’s arrest was strongly questioned by the Supreme Court senior lawyer Kapil Sibal. He was opposed by the Assistant Solicitor General SV Raj. 

Opposing Soren’s arrest, Sibal submitted that the charges against him don’t connect with money laundering, and as such it does not figure under the “ scheduled crime” of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act( PMLA). 

Sibal maintained that the counter affidavit filed against Soren by the Enforcement Directorate( ED) is entirely connected to a land scam. As such, the ED’s affidavit is not maintainable. 

This was countered by Assistant Solicitor General SV Raju submitted that Soren made an attempt to acquire a plot of land and illegally planned to build a banquet hall in connivance with several accused. 

The bench headed by Acting Chief Justice S. Chandrasekhar heard both of them and placed for its “ continued hearing” on February 28. 

Notably, the judicial remand granted to Soren in response to the ED’s report and order passed by the PMLA Special Court in Ranchi after his arrest on February 4, 2024, was challenged by him. The HC is hearing it.