Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: This year, the Jharkhand High Court and the Supreme Court granted bail to several high-profile accused in money laundering cases. These individuals, charged with embezzling public funds and laundering money through illegal schemes, were behind bars for months before securing their release. Here’s a detailed look at the key accused who were granted bail in 2024.
Accused Granted Bail in 2024
1.Hemant Soren
•Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in late January on charges of money laundering. His arrest, while serving as CM, sparked widespread discussion across the nation. However, after nearly five months in jail, the High Court granted him bail citing a lack of substantial evidence against him.
2.Pankaj Mishra
•Accused in an illegal mining-related money laundering case in Sahibganj, Pankaj Mishra spent over 30 months in jail before being granted bail by the High Court on October 21. He is currently out on bail.
3.Prem Prakash
•Known as a power broker in Jharkhand, Prem Prakash, accused in cases involving illegal mining and land scams, was granted bail by the Supreme Court this year. After spending 18 months in jail, he secured his release and is now out on bail.
4.Pooja Singhal
•Senior IAS officer Pooja Singhal was the first arrest by the ED in Jharkhand under the money laundering charges. Arrested in May 2022, she was released on bail on December 7 this year under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), after spending 28 months behind bars.
5.Yogendra Tiwari
•A prime accused in the liquor scam-related money laundering case, Yogendra Tiwari was granted bail by the High Court on September 3. Tiwari had been in jail since his arrest by the ED in October last year.
