Hemant Soren Withdraws Plea Against Jharkhand HC Order From Supreme Court

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday withdrew his plea before Supreme Court against Jharkhand High Court order not letting him attend the now-concluded budget of the State assembly.

In January, the Enforcement Directorate arrested the former Jharkhand CM

Source : PTI

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday withdrew plea before Supreme Court against Jharkhand High Court order not letting him attend the now-concluded budget of the State assembly.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Soren told the court that the ex-CM wishes to withdraw plea as matter is now infructuous. However, he said that the question of law may be kept open.

The bench passed an order saying that the writ petition is dismissed as withdrawn but question of law is kept open.

On January 31, the Enforcement Directorate arrested the former Jharkhand CM and claimed that it has recovered cash worth more than Rs 36 lakhs and documents pertaining to the illegal possession and occupation of at least 12 land parcels by him in its searches in the alleged money laundering case.

Following the ED raids, Soren resigned from his post as the chief minister. However, he requested the court to allow him to attend assembly session for state budget. The high court rejected his plea. He then moved to the Supreme Court.

On Feb 28, the High Court refused to allow him to attend the Budget session on March 1. 

Appearing for Soren, Kapil Sibal primarily argued that he was not chargesheeted in the case, he has been the CM of the State, and nothing stops the High Court from allowing him to go and participate in the Budget session of the State Assembly. 

 The ED however told the high court that doesn't matter if Soren is chargesheeted, or is in Judicial custody or police remand and that it was sufficient for the high court to refuse him permission to attend the assembly session. He further said that since his party is in majority, it won't make any difference if attends or not.

The ED has said that it has found that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) head Hemant Soren was actually and knowingly involved in process and activities connected with the acquisition, concealment, possession, and use of proceeds of crime and projecting the said proceeds of crime as untainted property.

Soren was found to be guilty under Section 3 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and was liable to be arrested under Section 19 of the money laundering act, the ED has submitted in court.

ED has said that the 8.5 acre land parcels are part of criminal proceeds as Soren illegally acquired and occupied them.