Money Laundering: SC Refuses to Entertain Jharkhand CM’s Plea Against ED Summons

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain the plea of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who had challenged the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) summons in a money laundering case.

A bench comprising Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Bela M Trivedi granted Soren the liberty to seek relief from the Jharkhand High Court in this matter.

During the hearing, Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Jharkhand Chief Minister argued that this was a clear case of witch-hunt.

“Mr Rohatgi, why don’t you go to the high court? No no, go to the high court. We will permit you to withdraw,” the bench said. The matter was dismissed as withdrawn.

Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the ED, noted that numerous judgments already covered the issue.

Hemant Soren had moved the Supreme Court to challenge the summons sent to him from the ED, requiring him to appear at the agency’s Ranchi office on August 14 and provide a statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Earlier, he had skipped the ED’s summons related to an alleged defense land scam, citing prior commitments.

The 48-year-old Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader had previously been interrogated by the ED for over nine hours on November 17, 2022, concerning another money laundering case associated with alleged illegal mining in the state.

The ED is investigating several land deals, including one involving defense land, in which a group of individuals, including mafia members, middlemen, and bureaucrats, were allegedly involved in forging deeds and documents dating as far back as 1932.

In the state of Jharkhand, the ED has arrested multiple individuals, including Soren’s political aide Pankaj Mishra. Initially summoned by the ED on November 3, 2022, Soren did not appear, citing official obligations. He subsequently challenged the summons and requested a three-week postponement.