Ranchi: Ranchi PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) Court has extended the Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren by 5 days in the land scam case. The investigating agency had appealed to the PMLA court to extend Soren’s remand by 7 days.
ED said that we are not satisfied with the answers given by Soren during interrogation. There are many more questions which need answers. In such a situation, remand will be required. Now ED will interrogate the former CM till February 12. ED is interrogating Soren in the 8.46 acre land scam case of Badgai. Soren was arrested on January 31.
On February 3, Soren was sent on 5-day ED remand. His remand ended on Wednesday. Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren said, Hemant ji did not accept to bow down to protect the existence and identity of Jharkhand. He thought it better to fight the conspiracy and dedicate himself to defeating it. Today is our 18th wedding anniversary, but Hemant ji is not among the family. Are not with children.
We believe that he will defeat this conspiracy and become the winner and join us all soon. I am the life partner of a brave Jharkhandi warrior. I will not be emotional today. Like Hemant ji, I will become his strength of courage and struggle by smiling even in difficult situations.
During the five-day ED custody, his lawyer had demanded that Hemant Soren be kept in camp jail. It was argued in the court that Hemant Soren is the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand. He is suffering from many physical problems. Therefore, they should be allowed to stay in the camp jail at night. Which was opposed by the ED lawyer. ED had said that there are only two provisions for remand in the law, judicial remand and police remand. The court has sent Soren on police remand.
ED is responsible for the security of the accused in remand. In such a situation, the demand to keep Hemant Soren in camp jail at night is not legally correct. After this Soren was kept in Hotwar jail. ED officials kept interrogating Hemant Soren for five days, but during this time no specific information could be extracted.
During the interrogation conducted so far, Hemant Soren has denied his role in the land for which questions were asked in the Badgai area. He told the ED that he had nothing to do with that land. Who is in possession of 8.5 acres of land located in Bariatu of Badgai area? Where did the money come from or raised to buy the land? How much total movable and immovable property do you own?
The petition filed by ED challenging the arrest of former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren was heard in the Jharkhand High Court last Monday. A criminal writ or petition was filed in the High Court on behalf of Hemant Soren.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Kapil Sibal presented his side on behalf of former CM Soren. He urged the court to hear the case soon. After which the bench of Justice S Chandrashekhar, while hearing the case, asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file its reply by February 9.