Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was granted bail on Friday by the Jharkhand High Court in land scam case.
Soren's senior counsel Arunabh Chowdhury told PTI, "Bail has been granted to Soren. The court has held that prima facie he is not guilty of the offence and there is no likelihood of the petitioner committing an offence when on bail."
The high court had reserved its decision on Soren's bail plea on June 13.
The lawyer of Soren had repeatedly applied in the court for bail in the alleged scam case of 8.5 acres of land in bargain.
Following a double bench hearing on Friday morning, Justice Rangan Mukhopadhyay's single bench delivered its verdict.
In a brief statement in the courtroom, he granted bail to Hemant Soren.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha expressed satisfaction with the court's decision to grant bail to Hemant Soren. However, the Enforcement Directorate faced a setback in the Jharkhand High Court as its request for a 24-hour stay on the bail was turned down.
During the hearing, ED's counsel SV Raju argued that if Soren is released on bail, he would commit a similar offence.
Soren, the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with its investigation into the money laundering case on January 31.
Hemant Soren was untracable for two days before the Enforcement Directorate sleuths arrived at his Delhi residence in connection with the summons over the money laundering case.
The investigation pertains to a "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, according to the ED.
The 48-year-old politician is currently lodged in Birsa Munda jail.
After Hemant Soren's arrest, the ruling JMM of Jharkhand had announced that Champai Soren will be the new state chief minister.
Hemant Soren has been granted bail after nearly five months.
Following his bail from the High Court, leaders from JMM and Congress have expressed happiness.
