The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday vacated its earlier stay order that had protected Chief Minister Hemant Soren from appearing before the MP-MLA court in Ranchi in a complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The ED had issued multiple summons to Soren in connection with an alleged land scam. According to the complaint filed by Devraj Jha, Assistant Director of the Enforcement Directorate, a total of 10 summons were issued. Soren appeared only twice and did not comply with the remaining summons.
Following this, the ED filed a complaint petition before the special judge of the MP-MLA court in 2024. During the proceedings, the special judge directed Soren to appear in person before the court.
Soren then approached the Jharkhand High Court by filing a criminal miscellaneous petition challenging the personal appearance order. In December 2024, the High Court issued notice to the ED and stayed the operation of the MP-MLA court’s direction, effectively keeping Soren’s appearance in abeyance.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the state government sought an adjournment. The High Court granted the request but simultaneously vacated the stay it had earlier granted in favour of Soren.
With the stay now lifted, the order of the MP-MLA court requiring Hemant Soren’s personal appearance stands revived.
