ED moves Supreme Court challenging Jharkhand HC’s bail order to CM Hemant Soren in money laundering case

In its order, the High Court's single judge bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay had ordered release of Soren, holding that the twin conditions under Section 45 of the PMLA were satisfied.

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Jharkhand High Court's order of granting bail to JMM leader and Chief Minister Hemant Soren in connection with a money laundering case in an alleged land scam.

The central agency filed the appeal in the apex court questioning the validity of the Jharkhand HC's June 28 order.

It contended that the HC order granting bail to Soren was "illegal" and that HC erred in saying there was no prima facie case against Soren.

In its order, the High Court's single judge bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay had ordered release of Soren, holding that the twin conditions under Section 45 of PMLA were satisfied.

Soren was in jail since he was arrested by the ED on January 31. The JMM leader, who had resigned just after his arrest, was again administered the oath of office as Chief Minister of the state after the High Court's order.

"None of the registers/revenue records bare imprint of the direct involvement of the petitioner in the acquisition and possession of the said land. The consequence of the findings recorded by this court satisfies the condition as at Section 45 PMLA, 2002 to the effect that there is “reason to believe” that the petitioner is not guilty of the offence as alleged," the High Court had said.