Money Laundering: SC Adjourns Jharkhand CM’s Plea Against ED Summons

The Supreme on Friday adjourned the hearing on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s petition against the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) summons in an alleged money laundering case until September 18, 2023.

A bench comprising Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Bela M Trivedi deferred the matter after being informed hat senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi would appear in the matter for Soren.

“I am requesting the matter to be heard on Monday. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi is leading us,” a junior counsel informed the court.

The bench agreed to the request.

Soren has approached the apex court to challenge the summons sent to him, compelling him to appear on August 14 at the ED’s office in Ranchi and record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Previously, Soren had avoided ED’s summons in an alleged defense land scam case, citing pre-scheduled commitments. The 48-year-old leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha had been questioned for over nine hours by the ED on November 17 of the previous year in connection with another money laundering case related to alleged illegal mining in the state.

The central investigative agency is probing a series of land deals, including one involving defense land, where a group of individuals, including mafia members, intermediaries, and bureaucrats, allegedly colluded to fabricate deeds and documents dating back as far as 1932.

The ED has arrested several individuals in the state in connection with these cases, including Soren’s political aide Pankaj Mishra.

Initially summoned by the ED on November 3, 2022, Soren did not appear, citing official commitments. He had even challenged the central investigative agency to arrest him and later requested a three-week postponement of the summons.