Hemant Soren moves Supreme Court against ED arrest; to be heard tomorrow

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren has moved the Supreme Court challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a land scam money laundering probe. .The matter was mentioned on Thursday morning by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal before a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud who agreed to list the case for hearing on Friday."This affects the polity of the country. Can a man be arrested like this?" Sibal argued. "We will list this tomorrow," CJI Chandrachud replied. .Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for ED, pointed out that Soren's arrest was challenged yesterday before the Jharkhand High Court, which is slated to hear the matter today. "It would be unfair to the High Court because at their request, it is kept and the matter was kept today first on board," SG Mehta submitted.Sibal responded by informing that the plea before the High Court would be withdrawn. "We are withdrawing it. We wanted it heard last night. Please, let this Court (Supreme Court) decide it. There is my undertaking that we are withdrawing ... This is a very serious matter ,.. Everybody will be jailed before elections," Sibal argued. "Allegations are also very serious," remarked Additional Solicitor General SV Raju."Hundreds get arrested every day," SG Mehta added."Keep the ammunition all charged for tomorrow," CJI Chandrachud told the lawyers present and listed the matter for hearing on Friday..Hemant Soren stepped down from his post as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand last night in the wake of his arrest by the ED in connection with a land scam money laundering probe. As per reports, Champai Soren will step in as the State's Chief Minister in Hemant Soren's absence..The plea before the High Court was filed by advocate Piyush Chitresh.It had challenged all the summons issued to Soren in the case so far, and sought protection from any coercive steps to be taken by central agencies.Soren stressed that the summons did not contain any particulars of any probe against him, and that his personal assets have been acquired with funds duly declared in tax returns.It stated that, among other things, the following questions for law are raised:- Only a person connected with any process or activity relating to the alleged proceeds of crime derived necessarily from the Schedule OIIence can be proceeded against under the PMLA?- Whether the Petitioner who is the Chief Minister of a Government formed by political parties not aligned with the ruling dispensation at the Centre is being targeted for political reasons?- Whether the impugned Summons are vitiated by malice and political vendetta and have been issued with the ulterior motive and malatrde intent to harass, intimidate and coerce the Petitioner into joining hands with the ruling dispensation at the threat of detention in false and concocted proceedings?.Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.