Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president Hemant Soren was sent to one-day judicial custody after being produced before a PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court in Ranchi on Thursday. The Enforcement Directorate’s plea seeking 10-day remand of Soren is set to be heard tomorrow.

Soren, who was arrested by the ED in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam on Wednesday night, moved the Supreme Court challenging his arrest. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud is set to hear the plea on Friday.

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The former Jharkhand Chief Minister has alleged that the Enforcement Directorate has attempted to ruin his image by carrying out raids at his Delhi residence. A day after Soren’s arrest, Soren released a video message in which he claimed that he was not linked to the money laundering case for which he was being arrested.

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“Most probably ED will arrest me today, but I am not worried as I am Shibu Soren’s son…After a full day of questioning, they decided to arrest me in a planned manner on matters that were not related to me,” Soren said in a video message recorded prior to his arrest.

After a prolonged hide-and-seek drama, Soren was arrested by the ED in Ranchi after seven hours of grilling. Earlier on Wednesday evening, the JMM chief submitted his resignation after enduring over six hours of questioning.

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“No evidence has been by them found yet. They also tried to spoil my image by conducting raids at my Delhi residence. We have to fight a new fight now against those who commit atrocities against the poor, Adivasis, Dalit and the innocent,” he added.

Arrested, Soren stated that he was ready to fight a new battle against those accusing innocent people, particularly the poor, Adivasis, and Dalits. “Struggle is in our blood and we will do that. I will not cow down. Ultimately truth will prevail and will win the battle,” Soren said.

Jharkhand Transport minister Champai Soren, named as JMM legislative party leader following Hemant Soren’s arrest, said that he has the support of 47 MLAs and will continue working to safeguard the state’s pride. “We have staked a claim to form the government in the state. We have the support of 47 MLAs. You have seen how the voice of the Adivasis here has been suppressed over the years,” he stated.

According to the ED, CM Soren was interrogated as part of a probe into a ‘huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia”. The investigation revolves around substantial proceeds of crime generated through the forgery of official records, depicting ‘fake sellers’ and purchasers through forged or bogus documents to acquire vast land parcels with a value in crores.