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The Supreme Court Monday refused to entertain Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s plea challenging the summons issued to him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with money laundering charges and asked him to instead approach the High Court in this regard.
Soren withdrew the plea after the bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi expressed disinclination to entertain it. Taking up the plea Monday, the bench sought to know why he had not approached the Jharkhand High Court which is the jurisdictional HC.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Hemant Soren, submitted he could approach the High Court but added there were related issues pending before the SC. Rohatgi added that it is a case of “complete witchhunt”.
“You go to the High Court. We will allow you to withdraw,” said Justice Trivedi.
“See, the case should be started from the High Court in general,” added Justice Bose.
Rohatgi eventually agreed to withdraw the plea.
The matter relates to a probe being undertaken by the ED in connection with a case of illegal mining and the alleged fraudulent sale of land parcels in Ranchi.
The agency had summoned Soren to appear before it on September 18 but since the challenge to it was also listed for hearing before the SC the same day, the ED re-issued the summons asking him to appear on September 23.
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