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The Supreme Court of India has ruled in favor of Hemant Soren, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, upholding a bail order granted by the Jharkhand High Court. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had filed a petition to overturn the bail, saw their request denied by the apex court. The court stated that the Jharkhand High Court's order was 'well-reasoned' and chose not to interfere in the decision. This ruling comes after Soren was arrested on charges of alleged land scams and money laundering.
Following the Supreme Court's verdict, Chief Minister Soren expressed gratitude towards the judiciary, emphasizing his belief in the institution's role as a pillar of democracy. He went on to accuse the Union government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of using central agencies to oppress him and his family, asserting that he was targeted due to his tribal background. His wife, Kalpana Soren, also voiced her concern, questioning how her husband would be compensated for the five months he spent in jail.
Soren has been highly critical of the BJP government, particularly alleging discrimination against Jharkhand in the Union budget. He claimed that the central government owes the state Rs 1.36 lakh crore and accused them of neglecting Jharkhand's interests while prioritizing other states, specifically citing financial measures favoring Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. The Chief Minister's statements and the Supreme Court's decision have further inflamed the political tension between the BJP-led central government and the Jharkhand government, led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) party. The ongoing legal battles and political clashes will likely continue to shape the political landscape of the state.
Source: Supreme Court: Supreme Court rejects ED petition against Hemant Soren's bail, JMM applauds decision