SC Upholds Hemant Soren's Bail In Money Laundering Case, Rejects ED's Plea

The Supreme Court on Monday provided huge relief to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren by refusing to interfere with the Jharkhand High Court's bail decision. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a petition challenging the bail granted by the HC, but the apex court dismissed the petition.

In a notable decision, the SC stated that the HC's order was well-founded and that it did not wish to interfere with it. The apex court also highlighted that the HC's remarks would not impact the ongoing trial in any manner.

During the hearing, a bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan said the high court's June 28 order was "very well reasoned". "We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order," the bench said.

Opposing Soren's bail plea in the high court, the ED had alleged that he misused his position as the chief minister to "unlawfully" acquire 8.86 acres of land in the Bargain area in the state capital Ranchi.

The ED claimed that during the probe, Soren's media consultant Abhishek Prasad admitted that the JMM leader had instructed him to manipulate official records to change the ownership details of the plot.

Soren's lawyer had contended that he was falsely implicated in the criminal case by the central agency.

Soren had resigned as CM shortly before the ED arrested him on January 31 in the case. He was summoned multiple times by the ED before he was questioned at his residence and subsequently arrested on January 31.

After coming out of jail on bail in the case, he returned as the Jharkhand CM on July 4. It is said that Soren's return to the helm will bolster JMM, which won three seats in the tribal-dominated state in the Lok Sabha elections.