New Delhi: Former chief minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren walked out of Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Jail after the High Court granted him bail in a money laundering case.
“The petitioner is directed to be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of ₹50,000 with two sureties of the like amount each,” said the order passed by a single bench of justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay.
“I was kept behind bars for five months… We are seeing how the judicial process is taking years, not just days or months… Today, it is a message for the whole country that a conspiracy was hatched against us… The fight we started and the resolutions we made, we will work to fulfil them,” Soren told media persons after his release.
The release, ahead of possible early assembly elections in October-November, has come as a shot in the arm for JMM-Congress-RJD alliance in Jharkhand. Soren has been in jail since January 31 after ED arrested him in a money laundering case.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, JMM and Congress won five seats – all ST-reserved constituencies. It was a clear indication that after Soren’s arrest, Jharkhand’s prominent tribal leader, tribal voters consolidated in favour of the INDIA bloc.
Jharkhand has 26. 3% tribal voters and 12.08% SC voters.
JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya told ET that “justice may be delayed but it can’t be denied. Now, Hemant Soren is out of jail and soon the party is going to hold a meeting to plan for the upcoming elections”. JMM ally Congress has already held a meeting with party leadership in New Delhi over preparation for upcoming polls.
Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee welcomed the court’s order. Champai termed the court’s order a victory of truth. Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren, a JMM legislator, thanked the judiciary and people for their support.
JMM and Congress sources told ET that ahead of the assembly polls, the allies may plan a statewide tour of Soren, who will be the face of the INDIA bloc. JMM leaders believe that the stature of Soren has grown manifold after he chose not to bow down to BJP pressure. In the changed political scenario, Champai is likely to continue as chief minister while Soren will focus on campaign. A Cabinet expansion is also on the cards where two ministers, one from JMM and the other from Congress, are likely to be sworn in.
