The Supreme Court stayed the criminal proceedings initiated against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on a complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for his alleged disobedience/failure to appear on summons in connection with a land acquisition case.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant passed the order and also issued a notice to the ED seeking a response to Soren’s plea.
“Deputy receives notice on behalf of ED. Counter-affidavit (by ED) to be filed within four weeks. Rejoinder (if any) within two weeks thereafter,” the Court observed, according to a report by news agency ANI.
‘Disobedience against ED orders’
Soren moved the apex court after the Jharkhand High Court rejected his plea to stay the criminal proceedings in the case of “disobedience against ED orders”. The Supreme Court granted him today by stopping the criminal prosecution against the leader.
Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January 2024 on charges of alleged land scam and money laundering.
The investigation is into the alleged generation of substantial revenue through falsification of official records involving fake sellers and buyers to acquire large plots of land worth millions of crowns.
Hemant Soren was released from Birsa Munda Jail on June 28 after nearly five months after being granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
Champai Soren, who took over as CM after the arrest, stepped down just five months after being sworn in, setting in motion Hemant Soren to retake the role on Wednesday.
The Supreme Court stayed the criminal proceedings against Hemant Soren and granted him immunity from ED charges.
In 2024, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance won the assemblies. JMM emerged as the single largest party winning 34 seats. Soren became the Chief Minister again.
