SC stays trial in criminal case for not obeying summons by ED

In a relief to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the trial in a case related to wilful disobedience of summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the money laundering case registered against him. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate on the plea of Soren seeking quashing of the case.

In his plea before the top court, Soren also challenged the repetitive summons issued to him by the ED in the money laundering cases related to the stone-chip illegal mining scam.

Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi, Arunabh Choudhary, and advocate Pragya Baghel, appearing for Soren, said the ED has been issuing summons after summons to him.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik, appearing for the ED, said Soren was issued seven summons, but he did not appear before the agency. He added that the trial against him was almost complete and only one witness remained to be examined.

CJI Kant told Kaushik, “We were reading in the newspaper, you (ED) have filed some bulk complaints. You should concentrate and spend your energy on those complaints. You will have some constructive outcomes.”

Justice Bagchi added, “You should focus on effective prosecution. These are in terrorerm (in fear) prosecution. Purpose has been served.”

Soren has challenged the recent Jharkhand High Court’s decision refusing to quash the case against him.