Supreme Court Rejects Hemant Soren’s Plea, Custody Extended Amidst Political Turmoil
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister’s Arrest Challenged, Supreme Court Defers to High Court:- Supreme Court Rejects Hemant Soren’s Plea
In a recent development, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition filed by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges of money laundering. The court stated, “We are not interfering, go to the High Court,” while noting that Soren had already filed a writ petition before the Jharkhand High Court, which is currently pending.
Hemant Soren, who was arrested late Wednesday night, had sought relief from the Supreme Court, alleging that the ED had acted in a malafide manner to destabilize the democratically-elected state government. The Supreme Court’s decision directs him to pursue his legal recourse in the High Court.
The former Chief Minister had earlier approached the High Court to challenge the summonses issued by the ED. Despite his efforts, he was sent to one-day judicial custody by a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi, and today, the custody was extended to five days after the Supreme Court’s dismissal of his petition.
In his plea before the Supreme Court, Hemant Soren argued that his arrest was illegal and without jurisdiction. He accused the ED of acting under the directives of the central government and claimed that he was being targeted to destabilize a democratically-elected government.
The Enforcement Directorate has leveled allegations against Hemant Soren, linking him to a ₹600-crore land scam and money laundering activities.
Meanwhile, amidst the legal battles and political turmoil, Champai Soren, a veteran leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The political landscape in the state remains tense as events continue to unfold, impacting both the opposition bloc and the governance scenario.
