SC quashes ex-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's interim bail plea
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the interim bail plea of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to participate in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The court stated that his interim bail petition should be considered alongside his petition challenging his arrest as "illegal" in a money laundering case. The hearing for the same is scheduled for Monday.
Why does this story matter?
Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January over a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. His arrest is linked to a "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, the ED said. After his arrest, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader challenged its legality and sought bail from the Jharkhand High Court. However, his application was dismissed by the high court, leading him to approach the Supreme Court.
Soren's legal representation pleads for bail
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Soren, informed a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud about the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand. He stated that the JMM leader should be allowed to campaign for his party. "Hemant Soren was arrested on January 31. We moved the high court on February 4. The high court reserved the judgment on February 28 but did not deliver the judgment," Sibal said.
Second time the JMM chief has moved the SC
This is the second time the JMM chief has moved the SC, challenging his arrest. He last moved the apex court against his arrest by the ED on May 6. "The first phase of election starts in the state on May 13 and so we moved this court...and notice was issued last week. After the notice was issued, the high court delivered the judgment rejecting his plea. Its very unfortunate that rights are being trampled in this fashion," Sibal said.
