The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has escalated its legal battle against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren by appealing to the Supreme Court against the bail granted to him by the State High Court in a money laundering case linked to a land scam.
High Court’s Decision Under Scrutiny
The ED contends that the High Court’s decision to grant bail was flawed, specifically challenging the finding that there was no prima facie evidence of Mr. Soren’s guilt under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The High Court had also concluded that Mr. Soren was unlikely to commit further offenses while on bail.
ED Presents Evidence of Alleged Money Laundering
In its opposition to interim bail sought by Mr. Soren in the Supreme Court, the ED asserted that he was involved in money laundering activities, leading to his arrest in January. The agency claims that the chargesheet filed against Mr. Soren contains compelling evidence against him and his close associates.
Allegations of Tampering and Obstruction
The ED further alleges that Mr. Soren filed false cases against officials under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to hinder the investigation. Additionally, it is claimed that he misused state machinery to obstruct the ED’s probe and create false leads. The agency fears that Mr. Soren may tamper with evidence and influence witnesses if he remains free on bail.
Land Ownership Dispute
While Mr. Soren denies any connection to the 8.86 acres of land at Shanti Nagar in Ranchi, the ED accuses him of attempting to tamper with evidence related to the property. Mr. Soren’s legal team had previously argued that the evidence available to the ED at the time of his arrest was insufficient to justify his detention under the PMLA.
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