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The Supreme Court has granted significant relief to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren by declining to overturn the bail granted by the Jharkhand High Court in a money laundering case. This decision follows a petition by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking to challenge the High Court’s bail order.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court affirmed that the High Court’s decision, made on June 28, was “very well reasoned” and chose not to interfere. The apex court emphasized that its decision would not influence the ongoing trial in any way. Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, who heard the case, highlighted that the High Court’s order was appropriate and did not warrant interference.
The ED’s petition had argued that Soren had used his position unlawfully to acquire 8.86 acres of land in Ranchi, which they claimed was a key point in their investigation. They alleged that Soren’s media consultant, Abhishek Prasad, had admitted to manipulating official records at Soren’s behest.
However, Soren’s legal team contended that the Chief Minister was being falsely implicated. They argued that the charges against Soren were baseless and that his actions were being misconstrued by the central agency.
The case against Soren has been closely watched due to its political implications. Soren had resigned as Chief Minister just before his arrest on January 31. Following his release on bail, he resumed his role as Chief Minister on July 4. His return to office is seen as a boost for his party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which gained three seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
This Supreme Court decision marks a crucial moment in Soren’s legal and political journey, as it underscores the judiciary’s stance on the matter and could influence the broader political landscape in Jharkhand.
