Ranchi, 1 Feb

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren arrested by the Enforcement Directorate was produced before a PMLA court here on Thursday.

Soren, the executive president of the JMM was arrested after a seven-hour grilling by the ED in the money laundering case at his official residence here on Wednesday night. The Enforcement Directorate produced Soren before the PMLA court here amid heavy security deployment.

Hemant Soren's plea against arrest heard in Jharkhand HC

Jharkhand High Court on Thursday heard a petition filed by Soren challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.

Former Union minister Kapil Sibal, appearing virtually for Soren, told the court that the JMM leader was wrongly arrested by the ED. He submitted before the court seeking more time to advance his arguments.

Soren on Thursday also moved the Supreme Court challenging his arrest by the central agency in the money laundering case. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra agreed to hear the plea of the former Jharkhand chief minister on Friday.

Sibal and senior lawyer Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Soren, told the apex court that the JMM leader will be withdrawing his plea from the Jharkhand High Court on the issue.

Advocate General Rajeev Ranjan said here that the petition in the high court will be withdrawn even though it has been listed for hearing on Friday.