A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Saturday rejected the interim bail petition of former Jharkhand chief minister and JMM executive president Hemant Soren for attending the last rites of his eldest uncle.

Hemant had moved the special PMLA Court on Saturday after the death of his uncle Raja Ram Soren, 85, who was the elder brother of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren. Raja Ram had been ailing with age-related illness for a long time and passed away on Saturday in Ranchi.

Hemant had moved the court citing the death of his uncle and sought a provisional bail for 13 days to attend the last rites of his uncle, which would likely be held in Ramgarh.

Hemant was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 in an alleged money-laundering case pertaining to a land scam in Ranchi after he resigned as chief minister before the governor. He is currently in judicial custody at Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi.

Hemant’s advocate Pradeep Chandra said: “An interim bail was filed but the court denied bail.”

He had also filed a special leave petition before the Supreme Court challenging his arrest and alleging that the high court is delaying in taking a decision on his petition.

Hemant told the apex court in his petition that while hearing the petition, Jharkhand High Court had reserved its decision on February 28. Even after 55 days, the high court hasn't yet given its verdict.

The JMM, which has been heading a coalition government in Jharkhand along with the Congress and the RJD for the last four years, is waiting for the release of Hemant in order to use him as a star campaigner for the party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Hemant had earlier alleged in the court that the BJP used the ED to arrest him on “baseless” charges ahead of the Lok Sabha polls for political gain.