A ray of hope for Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren as the Supreme Court intervenes decisively in his ED money laundering tussle. The bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi stayed all lower court proceedings and slapped a notice on the ED, marking a pivotal shift in the protracted legal standoff.
During oral remarks, CJI Kant quipped in a characteristically candid style: ‘Newspapers say you’ve filed tons of cases. Focus on the big ones and invest your energy wisely for real impact.’ This followed ED’s contention of ignored summonses countered by Rohatgi’s revelation of Soren’s multiple court appearances ending in custody.
The probe stemmed from ED’s discovery of land documents—8.86 acres purportedly Soren’s—from a close aide, morphing into a full PMLA inquiry. A special court summoned him under IPC for non-compliance, upheld by the High Court rejecting his quashing bid.
Soren’s urgent SLP prompted the SC’s interim order, a breather after his earlier arrest. Retaining CM chair despite the heat, Soren’s camp hails this as vindication. Critics see it as political maneuvering, but the court emphasized substantive focus over procedural nitpicking.
With elections looming, this could galvanize Soren’s JMM base. ED’s next moves will be crucial, as the apex court prepares to dissect the case’s core. Beyond Jharkhand, it spotlights the friction between central probes and state leadership, reinforcing checks on enforcement zeal.