SC issues notice to ED on Hemant Soren’s plea against arrest

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) on a plea filed by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and former chief minister Hemant Soren, challenging his arrest in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

Initially listing the matter on May 20, a bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta changed the date to May 17 after senior advocate Kapil Sibal expressed concern that the elections would be over by then and he would be prejudiced if a longer date was given. “My case is covered by Arvind Kejriwal’s order, and I need bail for election campaigning,” Sibal informed the bench.

Despite the bench expressing reluctance to change the date from May 20 due to a heavy workload, it agreed to the change after persistent requests from Sibal and senior advocate Arunabh Chowdhury, who appeared for Soren.

“We don’t know whether we will be able to take up the matter, but still, we are posting it for May 17,” remarked the bench.Hemant Soren, in his plea, challenged the May 3 order of the Jharkhand High Court dismissing his petition against the arrest.

He also sought interim bail for campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections until the court delivered its verdict on his plea against the arrest.

Arvind Kejriwal was granted interim bail by the top court on May 10 for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls after being arrested in a money laundering case related to an alleged Delhi excise policy scam.