Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s plea regarding the delayed pronouncement of an order by the High Court challenging his arrest has been disposed of by the Supreme Court. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta noted that the petition has become moot as the order has already been issued.
Jharkhand’s High Court recently rejected Soren’s petition challenging his arrest in a money laundering case. Soren subsequently appealed this decision to the Supreme Court, allowing him to address all concerns in a separate petition challenging the High Court’s May 3, 2024 order.
Soren’s original plea, which questioned the legality of his arrest and subsequent remand, was submitted to the High Court. He sought interim bail while arguing that his arrest was unwarranted and carried out with malicious intent.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arrested Soren in January amid speculation and media scrutiny surrounding a land scam investigation. The probe centers on the fraudulent acquisition of large land parcels using forged documents, generating substantial illegal profits.