Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Challenges ED Summons in Supreme Court Amid Money Laundering Allegations
In a recent development, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has approached the Supreme Court, challenging the fresh summons issued to him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case. This move comes shortly after the ED directed Soren to join its investigation on September 23.
Background:
The Supreme Court had previously adjourned Soren’s plea against the ED summons from September 15 to September 18. The Jharkhand CM’s legal team, led by his advocate, requested the adjournment to the following Monday. Soren’s contention is that the summons and the case represent a blatant
“abuse of law”
by the Central Government. He alleges a
“misuse of central agencies”
aiming to destabilize the democratically elected government under his leadership.
Previously, the ED had summoned Soren in mid-August concerning an alleged land scam. However, Soren did not comply, attributing his absence to his busy schedule preparing for the state’s Independence Day celebrations. Despite this, subsequent summons were issued for August 24 and September 9, which he again did not honor.
Legal Standpoint:
In his petition, Soren has called for the Supreme Court to declare Sections 50 and 63 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, as unconstitutional. He also seeks a directive to declare the summons against him as illegal and void. The petition emphasizes that the summons are driven by malice, aiming to create political unrest in Jharkhand.
Soren’s recent application, filed through Advocate-on-Record Shweta Singh Parihar, alleges that the ED’s continuous issuance of summons, even amidst the legal challenge in the Supreme Court, is politically motivated. He claims these actions aim to undermine his position as the Chief Minister and are derogatory, unwarranted, and illegal.
Political Implications:
The timing of these summons, according to Soren, is closely tied to the political atmosphere in the country. With general elections approaching, he believes the ruling regime is making efforts to threaten and intimidate political leaders, especially those in the opposition. Soren highlights the formation of the INDIA alliance, of which he and his party are vocal participants, as a potential reason for the increased scrutiny.
Soren’s application further states that the ED has become a political tool, weaponized to silence opposition in the country. He alleges that the central government is using the ED to target opposition leaders, especially as the date for General Elections nears.
Case Details:
The case in question revolves around allegations of money laundering linked to an illegal mining case and an alleged land scam in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The ED is actively investigating both cases, with several individuals, including an IAS officer and businessmen, already arrested in relation to the land scam.
In November of the previous year, the Jharkhand CM was questioned by the central agency. On August 14, 2023, he was summoned again for questioning related to the ongoing money laundering case concerning the fraudulent sale of land parcels in the state capital. Labeling this move as ‘politically motivated’, Soren demanded the withdrawal of the summons. However, the ED dismissed his claims and issued a second summons for August 24. In response, Soren approached the Supreme Court with a writ petition challenging the summons.
The case, titled “Hemant Soren v. Union of India & Anr.”, is slated for hearing on Monday, September 18, by a bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi.
