Supreme Court Delays Hemant Soren’s Interim Bail Plea Until Monday

The Supreme Court has decided to postpone the interim bail petition of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, currently embroiled in a money laundering case, until Monday. Soren, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January, had sought temporary release to campaign in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The court stated that the bail plea would be heard alongside the challenge to his arrest’s legality.

Represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, Soren’s legal team argued before a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud. Sibal highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that the first phase of polling in Jharkhand is set for May 13. He expressed disappointment with the Jharkhand High Court, which had reserved its judgment on February 28 but delayed the decision until after the Supreme Court had issued notice on Soren’s petition last week.

The controversy surrounding Soren stems from allegations by the ED that he acquired large tracts of land through fraudulent means, involving forged documents and dummy entities, leading to significant illicit gains. Soren, who resigned from his position as chief minister shortly before his January arrest, remains in judicial custody at Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi.

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