Plea against Soren’s acquittal

The Supreme Court on Monday admitted a petition against the acquittal of JMM chief Shibu Soren in connection with the murder of his private secretary,Shashi Nath Jha,in 1994.

Jha’s mother Priyambada Devi moved the apex court after the CBI chose not to appeal against Soren’s exoneration.The agency,however,decided to challenge the acquittal of four co-accused by the High Court.

A Bench comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and A K Patnaik jointly admitted the petitions of Priyambada Devi and the CBI.

Priyambada Devi’s counsel K Sunil said the Supreme Court admitted the petition after a hiatus of over two years since it issued notices to the accused in March 2008.