ED today brought him and produced the accused Hemant Soren in the PMLA court in Ranchi seeking his remand for 10- days.

The ED has alleged that Soren was not “cooperating” in its investigation into the money laundering connected with the Army land scam case.

In response, the court declined to provide remand sought by the ED and ordered to send Soren to jail in judicial custody. Also, the court decided to hear the ED’s plea on Friday.

Hemant Soren, the leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was arrested on Wednesday night. He was arrested in connection with a money laundering case subsequent to his resignation as the Chief Minister, was presented in the PMLA court in Ranchi. 

The CM has now decided to move the Supreme Court seeking protection against arrest enforcement directorate.

The SC is scheduled to hear the case on Friday. Following his resignation, Champai Soren, a loyalist and the state’s transport minister, was designated as his successor. 

Hemant Soren underwent an extensive seven-hour interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate at his official residence before being arrested in relation to the money laundering case. 

Subsequently, he was transported to the ED office for a medical examination, according to officials.His health check up report said, he was “ normal.” 

Alongside, bandh called by a band of Adivasi groups in protest against his arrest by the ED evoked mixed response. Though most shops along main roads were closed, shops and market places in Namkom, Doranda and Kanke road were open. The traffic on highways and city centres was almost normal. 

A group of agitators burnt a car tyre on main road. There was no report of any incident of violence. All offices and banks remained open.