SC issues notice to ED seeking response on Hemant Soren's interim bail plea

• SC issues notice to ED on Hemant Soren's plea for interim bail in connection with an alleged land scam
• Senior counsel representing Soren cited absence of money laundering aleegations in the chargesheet
• He further pressed on Soren's release stating HC was yet to decide his petition challenging Soren’s arrest

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) following a petition from former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, who seeks interim bail in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta have summoned the agency's counter affidavit, scheduling the next hearing for the week starting May 7.

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal pressed the charge sheet filed in the case, arguing that the charges primarily revolve around cheating and forgery, questioning the absence of allegations of money laundering against Soren. "Where is money laundering? Where are the allegations against me? I want interim bail," Sibal asserted.

Responding to Sibal the bench stated, that the ED's claims regarding proceeds of crime concerning significant land transactions and its ongoing collation of related information. 

However, Sibal cited the pending decision on his arrest by the ED on January 31, which awaits adjudication by the state high court, pressing for Soren's release.

At this point, the bench sought a response from the agency in the matter while clarifying that the Jharkhand high court was free to deliver its judgment in Soren’s petition in the meantime. 

On April 24, Sibal had mentioned the matter before this bench, pleading to hear Soren’s case immediately in view of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.