Supreme Court Stays Criminal Proceedings Against Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Over Alleged Skipping Of ED Summons

The Supreme Court today(February 25) stayed the criminal proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate against Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren over alleged willful disobedience of summons issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi stayed the proceedings (Complaint Case No.3952 of 2024) before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi, on the criminal complaint filed by the ED over alleged violation of summons. The bench passed the interim order while issuing notice to the ED on the Special Leave Petition filed by Soren challenging the Jharkhand High Cour's refusal to quash the proceedings. The ED's counsel submitted that Soren did not appear despite sending him seven summonses. Countering this, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, for Soren, said, "he appeared thrice and you arrested him."The ED's counsel also submitted that the quashing petition was filed belatedly, one year after the Magistrate took cognisance.After staying the High Court's order, CJI orally told ED: "Yesterday we were reading in newspaper, you (ED) have filed bulk complaints. Concentrate and spend your energy on those complaints. You will have some constructive outcomes."Justice Bagchi added, "[Focus on] Effective prosecution. These are in terrorerm prosecution. Purpose has been served".To briefly state, the ED had registered a case against Soren's associate, from whom documents relating to 8.86 acres of land were allegedly recovered, belonging to the CM. A case under PMLA was registered, and during investigation, summons were issued to Soren to personally appear and give statements regarding the alleged land. However, he didn't appear. Eventually, he was arrested on January 31, 2024.The ED alleged willful disobedience of summons under Section 50(4) PMLA, attracting Section 63(4) PMLA read with Section 174 IPC for hampering the investigation of a serious offence of money-laundering. Based on the complaint and materials, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi, found a prima facie case under Section 174 IPC and issued the summoning order. The High Court refused to quash, stating that whether he was supposed to appear in person or not is a question of fact that has to be determined in Trial.Case Details : HEMANT SOREN v. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, THROUGH DEOVRAT JHA, DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT | SLP(Crl) No. 2079/2026Click Here To Read/Download Order

Supreme Court Stays Criminal Proceedings Against Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Over Alleged Skipping Of ED Summons

Gursimran Kaur Bakshi

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