Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has served a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and has requested its response regarding the petition filed by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is currently incarcerated in a money laundering case linked to a land scam. The court is set to deliberate on Hemant Soren’s plea for interim bail on May 17. During the hearing, the court emphasized the necessity of the ED’s reply before proceeding further. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Soren, urged for an expedited hearing, pointing out that delaying until May 28 would surpass the electoral timeline. Sibal referenced a prior ruling involving Delhi CM Kejriwal to support his argument for a prompt hearing. Consequently, the court scheduled the hearing for May 17. Justices Sanjeev Khanna and Dipankar Dutta comprise the division bench overseeing Soren’s petition.
On May 3, the Jharkhand High Court dismissed Soren’s plea, stating that the ED possessed substantial evidence, and Soren’s arrest was justified. In response, Soren filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s decision. Additionally, Soren sought interim bail to engage in campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections. Notably, Soren was apprehended by the ED on January 31 in connection with the land scam case, which alleges money laundering related to land transactions. Presently, Soren remains in judicial custody at Birsa Munda Jail, Ranchi.
The investigation revolves around 8.86 acres of land in Ranchi, which the ED alleges was acquired unlawfully. On March 30, the ED filed a chargesheet in the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court against Soren, along with his purported associates Raj Kumar Pahan, Hilarias Kachhap, and Binod Singh. Soren had previously filed a bail petition in a special court in Ranchi, contending that his arrest was politically motivated and orchestrated to coerce him into joining the BJP.
The Supreme Court’s directive for the ED’s response underscores the significance of due process in adjudicating Soren’s case, amidst allegations of political motives and legal complexities surrounding the charges against him.
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