Jharkhand’s political circles are buzzing after the Supreme Court slammed the brakes on the Enforcement Directorate’s money laundering investigation targeting Chief Minister Hemant Soren. In a bench led by CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, the top court issued notices to the ED and paused lower court summons pending further hearings.
The justices didn’t mince words, with CJI Kant advising the agency: ‘You’ve got so many big cases filed. Put your energy there for positive results.’ This came amid arguments where ED claimed Soren dodged seven summonses, while his lawyer Mukul Rohatgi insisted on three prior appearances leading to arrests.
Background to the saga: ED raided an associate of Soren, seizing papers for 8.86 acres of prime land linked to the CM. This triggered PMLA charges and IPC summons for failing to appear. Ranchi’s Chief Judicial Magistrate upheld the action, affirmed by the High Court despite Soren’s plea to scrap it.
Soren’s SLP brought the issue to the apex court, which granted immediate interim protection. Previously arrested in the same probe, Soren’s tenure as CM has been under scanner, blending governance with legal battles. This stay not only delays ED’s momentum but signals judicial oversight on agency overreach.
As Jharkhand eyes assembly polls, the verdict could bolster Soren’s position within his party and among allies. The ED must now respond, with the court likely to delve into evidence merits next. This episode highlights the judiciary’s role in balancing probe powers against elected leaders’ rights, a recurring theme in India’s federal politics.