New Delhi, May 17, 2024 — The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to respond within two days to a plea by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for interim bail related to an alleged land scam. This decision, driven by the ongoing general elections, followed the ED’s opposition to Soren’s request.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta agreed to an expedited hearing set for May 21 after senior counsel Kapil Sibal’s fervent appeal for parity with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal, jailed in a money laundering case, was granted interim bail on May 10 for political campaigning during the Lok Sabha elections.
Sibal argued that Soren is prepared to surrender to Jharkhand jail authorities on June 2, the same day Kejriwal is required to return to Delhi prison after his 21-day bail period ends. While the bench scheduled the matter for a vacation bench on May 21, it emphasized that the ED must be given a couple of days to submit its affidavit on Soren’s plea.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, opposed the plea, highlighting that Soren’s petition for regular bail had already been rejected by a Jharkhand court. Raju stated that there is sufficient evidence indicating Soren’s involvement in the alleged land scam. The bench noted the necessity of a detailed review and asked the ED to file a short reply by May 20, with the hearing set for the following day.
Sibal underscored the urgency, pointing out that the delay has already cost Soren participation in the first election phase in Jharkhand on May 13, and the second phase, scheduled for May 20, will also be over by the next hearing. Further polling in Jharkhand will occur on May 25 and June 1.
On May 10, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal temporary bail in the Delhi excise policy case, stressing the importance of elections in a democracy. Concurrently, the Court dismissed Soren’s separate petition for interim bail, noting the Jharkhand High Court had already rejected his appeal against the ED’s arrest.
The alleged land scam involves prime parcels of land in Ranchi, valued over ₹74 crore, acquired through fake deeds and falsified records. Soren’s arrest, shortly after resigning as Chief Minister, was based on substantial documentary evidence linking him to the land-related irregularities. He denies all charges.
