Jharkhand CM Soren files writ petition in HC against ED summons

Hemant Soren, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, lodged a writ petition in the Jharkhand High Court to contest the summons he received from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case. The ED had issued a fourth summon, instructing him to appear at their Ranchi zonal office on September 23.

After his initial appeal to the Supreme Court was dismissed, Soren was directed by the apex court to pursue his case against the ED summons in the relevant High Court. However, a bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi declined to entertain his plea. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Jharkhand Chief Minister, requested to withdraw the plea.

Soren had previously filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the summons, asserting that the case against him constitutes an instance of the Central Government abusing the law and misusing Central agencies to undermine the democratically elected government of Jharkhand, of which he serves as the Chief Minister.

On August 24, the ED had initially called upon Soren to participate in its investigation regarding the alleged money laundering case, but he did not comply with the central agency’s directive.

In his plea, Soren had urged the highest court to declare Section 50 and Section 63 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, as unconstitutional and issue appropriate directives to invalidate the summons against him. He also sought the annulment of the summons and all associated actions and proceedings.