The Jharkhand Chief minister in the case Hemant Soren v. Union of India & Anr agreed to withdraw the writ plea moved against the summonses by the Enforcement Directorate, ED in connection with the money laundering case, after the Supreme Court expressed its disclination for entertaining the matter.
The bench comprising of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Bela M Trivedi was hearing the plea moved by the minister wherein seeking the quashing of the summonses issued earlier by the central agency, asking him to appear for questioning in connection with this money laundering investigation which involves the fraudulent sale of land parcels in Ranchi. Last week, another application was moved wherein challenging the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate even after he instituted a legal challenge to the earlier summonses. The bench in the case observed and has inquired why Soren had not approached the Jharkhand High Court first for relief. In response to which, it has been argued by the counsel, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi that there being the number of questions which relates to the constitutionality of the Prevention of the Money Laundering Act, 2002 pending in the Supreme Court.
The present case resolves around the allegations of the money laundering case wherein the court contended with an illegal mining case, as well as an alleged land scam in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
Therefore, the Enforcement Directorate is investigating both cases, and several individuals, which includes an IAS officer and a businessman, have already been arrested in connection with the land scam case.