Hemant Soren
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding a petition filed by former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, seeking interim bail in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. Soren’s plea was brought before a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, who directed the ED to submit a counter affidavit. The next hearing is scheduled for the week commencing May 7.
During the proceedings, senior counsel Kapil Sibal, representing Soren, argued for interim bail based on the charges mentioned in the case’s charge sheet, emphasizing the absence of specific allegations related to money laundering. However, the bench noted ED’s claims regarding proceeds of crime linked to large land transactions and stated that the agency was still gathering information on these transactions.
Sibal further asserted that Soren’s petition challenging his arrest by the ED on January 31 was pending before the Jharkhand High Court, urging the bench to consider his interim bail plea in light of this. In response, the bench sought a response from the ED and clarified that the high court could proceed with its judgment on Soren’s petition while the Supreme Court awaited ED’s reply.
Previously, on April 24, Sibal had urged for an expedited hearing of Soren’s case due to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Soren had approached the Supreme Court seeking protection from arrest, arguing that the ED’s actions were politically motivated and unlawful. His arrest occurred shortly after he resigned as chief minister of Jharkhand on the evening of January 31, with the ED alleging his involvement in an alleged land scam.
Meanwhile, ED has claimed evidence implicating Soren as a key beneficiary in land-related irregularities in Ranchi, with Kolkata-based businessman Amit Kumar Agarwal alleged to be handling illicit funds. The agency has filed a charge sheet in the case, detailing fraudulent transactions involving multiple individuals and companies.
Soren has also filed a bail plea before a trial court in Ranchi, which is scheduled for a hearing on May 1.
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