Hemant Soren remanded to judicial custody till February 22 in connection with money laundering case

A special PMLA court on Thursday remanded former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in custody till February 22 in a money laundering case related to an alleged land scam. The executive chairman of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has been detained by the ED.

“Hemant Soren was produced before the PMLA special court today and he was remanded in custody till February 22. We will move a bail application for him,” said lawyer Rajeev Ranjan, appearing for the former chief minister. Ranjan said the education ministry was not seeking an extension of Soren’s remand.

The JMM leader was taken from the court to Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar, Ranchi. Asked whether a request would be made to transfer Soren to a concentration camp prison, Ranjan said no special privileges were being requested.

A “concentration camp prison” is a place on the prison campus where prisoners who are not considered dangerous are held. The Attorney General said he would soon make a bail application for his client.

Soren was arrested by the ED soon after he resigned as chief minister on January 31. Earlier in the day, Soren waved to the supporters present when he arrived at the PMLA court in the afternoon.

On February 2, the court granted Solon ED custody for 5 days and extended custody twice for a total of 7 days. He was arrested on January 31 after being interrogated by central agencies for seven hours in connection with a money laundering case.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)