Jharkhand’s former chief minister Hemant Soren moved the Supreme Court on Monday against the rejection of his bail plea by the Jharkhand High Court last week in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
The plea for urgent listing was mentioned before the apex court by senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for Soren.
Sibal was told by the bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra to write an email regarding the request and it would look into the request.
On Friday (May 3) the Jharkhand High Court had dismissed Soren’s writ petition challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and denied bail to him. The court, however, allowed the former CM to attend his uncle’s last rites on May 6 under police custody.
In his plea, Soren claimed that his arrest was unwarranted and his remand in the matter was arbitrary and illegal.
On Monday, appearing on behalf of Soren, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal requested the SC to give an early consideration to the Special Leave Petition, especially in light of the election phase which will begin in the Jharkhand from May 13 and last till June 1.
“Hemant Soren was arrested on January 31, we moved the High Court on February 4…and the HC did not deliver the judgement, the phase of election starts on May 13, we moved this Court (SC) under 32 petition, this court issues notice and he delivers the judgement on 3rd. We have filed overnight the SLP, Very unfortunate that rights are being trampled in this fashion,” Sibal submitted.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chairperson, Soren, was arrested on January 31 by the ED in the land scam case. Following his detention by the ED, he was sent to the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi on Frnruary 15.
He is currently in judicial custody and is lodged at the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi.
The ED is investigating Soren for money laundering charges in connection with an illegal mining case and an alleged land scam in Ranchi and contends that approximately 8.5 acres of property in question constitutes proceeds of crime.
With inputs from agencies
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Hemant Soren moves SC against bail plea rejection by Jharkhand HC
