“Our leader is innocent, will be acquitted”: JMM’s Manoj Pandey after charges framed against CM Soren in land scam case
JMM leader Manoj Pandey dismisses land scam charges against CM Hemant Soren as politically motivated, while BJP demands his immediate resignation.
SLUG: hemant-soren-land-scam-charges-jmm-reaction FOCUS: Hemant Soren land scam case SEO_TITLE: JMM Defends Hemant Soren in Land Scam Case SEO_DESC: JMM leader Manoj Pandey dismisses land scam charges against CM Hemant Soren as politically motivated, while BJP demands his immediate resignation. TAGS: India News, Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, India Politics SLUG: hemant-soren-land-scam-charges-jmm-reaction
“Our leader is innocent”: JMM reacts as charges framed against CM Soren
In a significant legal development in the Bargain land scam case, a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi has framed charges against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The Chief Minister, who appeared before the court via video conferencing, denied all allegations, labeling them as entirely baseless.
JMM dismisses charges as political conspiracy
Responding to the court's decision, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Manoj Pandey launched a scathing attack on the opposition and central agencies. He asserted that the entire case is a fabricated narrative designed to target a prominent tribal leader.
“This is a false case; it is a fabricated case,” Pandey told reporters. He reminded the public that the High Court had previously granted bail and noted that no such case was initially made out. “You might feel you have achieved a great feat by misusing your agencies to gather fabricated evidence, trying to implicate a popular Chief Minister, the son of a tribal. But your designs will not succeed. Our leader is innocent. He will be acquitted,” he added, invoking the principle of Satyamev Jayate.
Legal proceedings and next steps
The legal battle surrounding the alleged 8.86-acre land scam in the Bargain circle area has reached a critical juncture. According to the Chief Minister's counsel, Sanjeev Sahay, the legal team has also challenged the constitutionality of Section 44(d) in the High Court.
Key details regarding the current legal status include:
- Court Appearance: Hemant Soren participated in the proceedings through video conferencing.
- Plea: The Chief Minister has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
- Next Hearing: The Special Court has scheduled the next date for November 30 to consider further evidence.
- Scope of Case: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has named 17 individuals as accused in this investigation.
BJP demands Chief Minister's resignation
The political fallout from the court's decision was immediate. BJP spokesperson Pratul Sahdeo called for Hemant Soren to step down from his position to protect the dignity of the state.
“The Chief Minister should immediately resign and face the trial,” Sahdeo stated. He argued that because a Chief Minister holds significant influence, it would be inappropriate for him to remain in office while undergoing trial. “Face the trial, Chief Minister; do not undergo the trial while holding office. It brings disrepute to Jharkhand,” Sahdeo remarked, adding that Soren should face the legal process as an ordinary citizen.