Supreme Court issues notice to Enforcement Directorate on plea challenging Hemant Soren’s arrest

The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate seeking its response to a plea moved by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren challenging his arrest in a money laundering case, Live Law reported.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta asked the agency to file a counter affidavit and posted the matter for hearing next week.

Soren has been in jail since January 31, when he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case. This was shortly after he resigned as the state’s chief minister after being questioned by the central law enforcement agency.

On April 24, the former chief minister filed a fresh petition in the Supreme Court challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.

On Monday, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibbal pressed for interim bail, stating that the chargesheet filed by the central agency only mentions cheating and forgery and not money laundering, reported the Hindustan Times.

The bench responded by saying that the chargesheet mentions the proceeds of crime relating to large parcels of land and that the agency has claimed it was collating information about the alleged transitions.

Sibal said that Soren’s bail plea should also be considered ast the High Court has yet to decide on the petition challenging Soren’s arrest on money laundering charges in connection with...

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