Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren moves Supreme Court challenging High Court order rejecting plea against ED arrest

Hemant Soren, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has moved the Supreme Court against High Court’s dismissal of the challenge to his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. Hemant Soren had urged for an early listing of the matter considering that the election phase begins on May 13.

Earlier, the Jharkhand High Court had dismissed the former Chief Minister’s plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the land scam case. A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Navneet Kumar dismissed his plea 4 days after the Supreme Court, posting Soren’s plea against ED Arrest in the week commencing from May 6, mentioned that it would be open to the High Court to pronounce the judgment in the matter.

Appearing for former CM Hemant Soren, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal requested the bench to give an early consideration to the Special Leave Petition which is lodged challenging the High Court’s rejection, especially in light of the election phase which will commence in Jharkhand from May 13 and last till June 1.

The counsel mentioned that Hemant Soren was arrested on January 31 and they moved the High Court on 4 Feb. He added that the High Court did not deliver the judgement and the phase of election starts on 13th. Furthermore, the counsel said that they moved the court under 32 petition, this court issues notice and he delivers the judgement on May 3.

Meanwhile, the bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra was informed that the previous pending petition is to be taken up by the bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna tomorrow. Subsequently, the CJI asked the senior counsel to circulate an email in this regard so that both matters may be listed together.

Hemant Soren had earlier moved the Supreme Court, citing the High Court’s delay in pronouncing the verdict on his petition challenging ED arrest. The judgment in the petition was reserved by the High Court on February 28, 2024. The Supreme Court on April 29 issued notice on a petition filed by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren challenging his arrest by the ED.