SC Stays Trial in ED Case Against Hemant Soren

A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi issued notice to the ED on Soren’s plea seeking quashing of the complaint.

Soren has challenged the Jharkhand High Court’s January 15 order refusing to quash the cognisance taken against him by a special MP-MLA court in Ranchi. The ED had filed a complaint alleging that he failed to appear despite repeated summons in connection with an alleged illegal stone-chip mining scam.

Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Arunabh Choudhary, along with advocate Pragya Baghel, appearing for Soren, submitted that the agency had been issuing repeated summons.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik, appearing for the ED, said seven summons were issued but Soren did not appear. He submitted that the trial was almost complete and only one witness remained to be examined.

CJI Kant observed, “We were reading in the newspaper, you (ED) have filed some bulk complaints. You should concentrate and spend your energy on those complaints. You will have some constructive outcomes.”

Justice Bagchi added, “You should focus on effective prosecution. These are in terrorem (in fear) prosecution. Purpose has been served.”

The ED alleged that during investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, Soren was issued six summons and one letter under Section 50 of the Act requiring his personal appearance. It claimed that his failure to appear constituted an offence under Section 174 of the IPC and hampered the investigation.

The Supreme Court’s interim order stays further proceedings in the trial court pending consideration of the plea.