hc-seeks-ed-s-reply-to-soren-s-bail-petition

The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday asked the Enforcement Directorate to file an affidavit in the matter of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s bail petition by June 10.

The bench of Justice Rangon Mukhopadhyay today heard the matter and asked the ED advocate to file its reply before June 10, when the hearing will resume in the case.

After facing rejection of his interim bail plea and subsequent withdrawal of his petition from the Supreme Court, Soren has moved to the Jharkhand High Court for regular bail. He had also requested the court to hear his matter early.

Earlier, Soren had approached the PMLA court, the Jharkhand High Court and the Supreme Court challenging his arrest by ED terming it illegal. At the Supreme Court Soren had also requested for interim bail for election campaigning, but his appeal was rejected.

Notably, the Jharkhand High Court had reserved the decision after hearing the case. Meanwhile, Hemant Soren reached the Supreme Court and requested bail. After hearing the arguments the Supreme Court expressed displeasure that Soren had hidden the facts related to the case and asked him to approach the High Court.

The court had declined to entertain the matter saying that the petitioner had concealed the fact that the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court had taken cognisance of the matter and had rejected the regular bail petition of the accused.