J’Khand HC reserves order in CM’s plea seeking discharge from criminal proceedings in land deal case

Ranchi, Sep 16 (PTI) The Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday reserved its order in Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s plea challenging the rejection by the Special PMLA court of his petition that sought discharge from criminal proceedings in connection with a land deal case.

The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case in connection with the alleged illegal acquisition and transfer of 8.86 acres of land in the Bargain area of Ranchi.

Soren had prayed for stay of proceedings before the Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court here.

Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, after hearing the arguments of the counsels of Soren and the ED reserved the order on the point of stay of proceedings.

Soren moved the high court on August 31 after his discharge petition was rejected by the PMLA court on June 8.

A discharge petition is a formal request made by an accused person asking a trial court to drop a criminal case before formal charges are framed.

Soren’s counsel sought that the high court stay the proceedings in the lower court.

However, the high court on September 9 did not allow it and ordered the ED to file a response in the matter.

According to the allegations, the land was fraudulently transferred in favour of Soren who denied the allegation.

The Special PMLA court has already framed charges against co-accused Antu Tirkey, architect Vinod Kumar Singh and 15 others. PTI CORR NAM NN

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