Ranchi, December 3, 2025 – The Jharkhand High Court has granted relief to Chief Minister Hemant Soren by exempting him from personal appearances before the MP-MLA Court in a case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) concerning an alleged land scam. Justice Anil Kumar Choudhary presided over the hearing of Soren's petition, ultimately disposing of the plea with the observation that Soren will not be required to appear in person for the case and can be represented by his legal counsel.

Soren had challenged the order issued by the MP-MLA Court that had previously mandated his personal presence. The ED's case against Soren arises from allegations of a land scam, and the agency filed a complaint after Soren allegedly refused to comply with summonses to appear before them.

The ED's complaint stated that Soren's non-appearance, despite multiple summonses, constituted a deliberate evasion, leading them to file a formal complaint with the MP-MLA court in 2024. The special court then acted on this complaint, ordering Soren to be physically present for proceedings. According to the ED, ten summonses were issued to Soren, but he only complied with two. The agency claims to have recovered ₹36 lakh in cash and documents related to the investigation, alleging that Soren acquired 8.5 acres of land through fraudulent means.

This legal battle is not new to Soren, who was arrested by the ED on January 31, 2024, in connection with the same land-scam probe. The ED alleged that he had profited from forged deeds and fraudulent acquisitions. Soren, his party, and several opposition leaders have denounced the arrest, claiming it was a politically motivated move orchestrated by the central government. He was in custody at Birsa Munda Central Jail for nearly five months and was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court on June 28, 2024.

In December 2024, the High Court initially stayed the MP-MLA court's order requiring Soren's personal appearance. However, this stay was later vacated when the state government requested an adjournment during a hearing in November of last year, which effectively reinstated the lower court's mandate. The current ruling reverses that position once again, restoring Soren's exemption from personal appearances and keeping the MP-MLA court's demand in abeyance.

In related developments, Soren had also filed an FIR under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, alleging that the ED's searches at his residences were aimed at tarnishing his image and harassing him for being a tribal. The Ranchi police had issued a notice to ED officials to join the investigation; however, the Jharkhand High Court ordered that no coercive action be taken against ED officials after the agency challenged Soren’s FIR.

While this order offers Soren procedural protection, it does not halt the ED investigation or the court's scrutiny of the complaint. These processes remain active, ensuring that the case will continue to be a significant issue in Jharkhand's political landscape.