No Supreme Court Relief For Hemant Soren Over Summons

The Supreme Court has refused to hear Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s petition against an Enforcement Directorate summons in relation to money laundering charges against him. Mr Soren – who had demanded the agency relent or face legal action – was directed to his state’s High Court.

The Chief Minister had been told to appear for questioning on September 23 over allegations of corruption linked to illegal mining in Sahebganj district. He had filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging this summons and then alleged the calls were continuing despite the pending case.

In his application to the court, the Chief Minister said today the “repeated summons (were) issued to threaten, humiliate and intimidate him” and claimed that these were “politically motivated”.

He said the summons, apart from being “derogatory, illegal and unfair”, also undermined the office he holds, as they are addressed to the ‘Chief Minister of Jharkhand’ and not to him directly.

Mr Soren also said “targeting of opposition leaders” had “picked up pace” ahead of elections this year and the next and after the formation of INDIA, which includes his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

The Chief Minister and other opposition leaders frequently allege the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party uses central investigative agencies, like the Enforcement Directorate, to target and harass political rivals, noting that cases seem to disappear once the politicians being investigated join the BJP.

Last month the Enforcement Directorate had asked Mr Soren to join its investigation.

He wrote back indicating he had provided all the necessary documents – including details of his movable and immovable assets to the Central Bureau of Investigation, in connection with a separate inquiry – and invited the central agency to refer to those papers if it needed any further information.

Mr Soren – who also heads Jharkhand’s mining ministry – has been accused of violating poll rules by giving himself a lease. He has denied the charges and alleged a conspiracy to “harass a tribal leader”.

Last year, the Chief Minister skipped the ED’s summons in November and went to Chhattisgarh to attend a dance festival instead. Speaking about his decision to skip his questioning and attend the festival that was scheduled in advance, Mr Soren objected to what he alleged was a short notice from the probe agency to appear. “Are we thieves or anti-socials?” he asked while speaking to NDTV.