After Kejriwal, Hemant Soren also demands interim bail from the SC

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Soren demands interim bail for election campaigning

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren

New Delhi – Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has also demanded interim bail after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was granted the same to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. In this regard, his advocate Kapil Sibal has filed a petition in the Supreme Court. A bench of Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Dipankar Dutta agreed to hear the petition and sought a reply from the Enforcement Directorate by 17^thMay. Soren was arrested on 31^stJanuary 2024 in a land scam case.

Argument in the Court

1. Soren is currently in judicial custody in a Ranchi (Jharkhand) jail.

2. Advocate Kapil Sibal said Soren wanted interim bail for election campaign. The Court replied that Soren cannot be granted an interim bail without hearing the ED.

3. The Court said that the case will be heard on 20^thMay. Sibal pointed out to the Court that the election would be over by then.

4. The Court said, ‘There is a lot of work this week. Many cases are listed’. Sibal replied, ‘If so, dismiss this petition. Elections will be over in the State if the hearing is delayed.’

5. The bench initially asked for adjournment of the hearing but after Sibal insisted, the Supreme Court agreed to hold the hearing on 17^thMay.

6. Voting for 4 Lok Sabha constituencies in Jharkhand namely Khunti, Singhbhum, Lohardaga and Palamu was held on 13^thMay. The remaining 10 seats in the State will go to polls on 20^th May, 25^thMay and 1^stJune.

Editorial Perspective

This is how a bad precedent is set !