New Delhi

The Supreme Court, on Monday, rejected the Enforcement Directorate’s petition challenging the Jharkhand High Court’s decision to grant bail to Chief Minister Hemant Soren in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. Justice B.R. Gavai, heading the bench along with Justice K.V. Viswanathan, declined to intervene in the high court’s reasoned judgment, emphasizing that the bail conditions imposed would not influence the trial proceedings.

After spending five months in custody following his arrest by the ED on January 31, Soren was released on bail and subsequently sworn in as Jharkhand Chief Minister for the third time on July 4. The ED had approached the Supreme Court with a special leave petition seeking the cancellation of Soren’s bail.

Earlier in May, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain Soren’s plea against his arrest by the ED, criticizing him for initiating parallel legal proceedings without disclosing all relevant facts, including the special court’s cognizance of the ED’s complaint. The court dismissed the plea, underscoring the importance of transparency and integrity in approaching the highest judicial authority.