Court to hear Hemant Soren's bail plea on April 23

• Special court in Ranchi sets April 23 for hearing on Hemant Soren’s bail plea
• ED seeks time to file a reply in the money laundering case
• Soren had filed the bail plea on Monday, seeking relief in the money laundering case against him

A special court in Ranchi has set April 23 as the next date for hearing on former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren’s bail plea, following a request from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for time to file a reply. Soren had filed the bail plea on Monday, seeking relief in the money laundering case against him.

Soren’s lawyer, Pradeep Chandra, confirmed the development, stating, “The ED sought time to file a reply to the petition. The court has fixed April 23 as the next date for hearing.”

The former chief minister was arrested in January on charges of money laundering, just moments after he resigned from his post. The ED has alleged that Soren was a key beneficiary in land-related irregularities in Ranchi. According to the ED, a network of brokers and businessmen had reportedly forged records in the registrar’s offices over the years to create fake deeds of land parcels, which were then sold.

Soren repeatedly denied the allegations and called them politically motivated, saying that the details of his assets are public.