Hemant Soren Faces Setback as Court Rejects Discharge Plea in 8.86-Acre Land Scam Case

Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has suffered a major legal setback after a special PMLA court rejected his discharge petition in the money laundering case linked to the alleged 8.86-acre land fraud.

The court had reserved its verdict on May 2 after hearing arguments from both sides. In his petition, Soren had sought to be discharged from the case, maintaining that he was innocent and that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had failed to produce any concrete evidence against him.

It may be recalled that Soren had filed the petition on December 5, 2025, describing the allegations as baseless and requesting that he be relieved from the proceedings. With the court now dismissing the plea, the case will move forward to the stage of framing charges.

The Enforcement Directorate has conducted multiple raids and questioned several individuals during its investigation into the alleged land scam. So far, the agency has filed charge sheets against nearly 18 accused persons in connection with the case.

The rejection of the discharge petition marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation and legal proceedings related to the alleged land fraud and money laundering case.