Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren Legal Battle Over Money Laundering Allegations Enters Supreme Court Spotlight
On Monday, the Supreme Court issued a notice regarding a petition filed by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The order was issued by a Bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta, scheduling the matter for further hearing next week. The Apex Court noted that the High Court was still open to deliver its judgment on the reserved case until then.
Represented by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, Soren’s party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), emphasized the delay in the Jharkhand High Court’s decision on his petition contesting his arrest. Previously, Soren had approached the Supreme Court under Article 32 to challenge his arrest, but the court directed him to first seek relief from the Jharkhand High Court.
Also read: CM Hemant Soren’s Plea Verdict Delay Raises Questions by Kapil Sibal
Soren resigned as Chief Minister of Jharkhand on January 31 following his arrest by the ED in connection with a money laundering case related to alleged illegal land ownership changes by mafia elements in the state. The ED filed a prosecution complaint on June 23, 2016, under Section 45 of the PMLA against Soren, Ranjan, nine others, and three companies. Soren has denied the money laundering allegations, asserting in a pre-arrest video that he was being targeted based on fabricated evidence as part of a conspiracy.
The Jharkhand High Court is yet to deliver its verdict on Soren’s plea.
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