SC pulls up former Jharkhand CM for ‘suppressing material facts’, Hemant Soren withdraws bail plea | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren’s petition seeking interim bail on the grounds that he “suppressed facts” about cognizance order of trial court against him, forcing Soren to withdraw the petition. This means, he would remain in custody and will not be able to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.
A vacation bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma heard the matter.
“You should have approached the high court seeking delivery of the verdict, pointing to developments in the case, including cognisance of the ED chargesheet,” Justice Datta said.
The Supreme Court resumed hearing the interim bail plea of ex-Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday. Soren was arrested on January 31 in a money laundering case relating to forcible acquisition of 8.86 acres of land in Ranchi.
The ED on May 20 opposed former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren‘s plea for interim bail in the top court. Soren, who has been held in connection to a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam, sought bail to campaign in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the ED argued that evidence establishes Soren’s involvement in the illegal acquisition and possession of properties, which are deemed proceeds of crime. The agency highlighted that statements recorded under section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, indicate that an 8.86-acre property in Shanti Nagar, Bariyatu, is illegally acquired and possessed by Soren.
The ED, opposing Soren’s request for interim bail to campaign, said that the right to campaign is neither a fundamental, constitutional, nor legal right.
The agency also noted Soren’s alleged attempts to subvert the investigation by misusing state machinery and projecting the proceeds of crime as untainted through intermediaries.
Soren was arrested on January 31 in connection with the money-laundering case after resigning as Jharkhand’s chief minister.
The former Jharkhand CM has challenged a May 3 order from the Jharkhand high court, which dismissed his petition against the ED’s arrest. He is also seeking interim bail to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections until the Supreme Court rules on his plea against his arrest.
On May 13, Soren referenced a recent Supreme Court order in a money-laundering case involving Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, seeking interim bail for election campaigning.
(With agency inputs)