Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren appeared before the MP-MLA Special Court in Ranchi on Saturday in connection with a case related to the alleged violation of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons.
The court granted him bail on two bonds of Rs 7,000 each. It also ruled that Soren will not be required to appear personally for future hearings unless specifically directed by the court.
His appearance came in compliance with a Jharkhand High Court directive, which had ordered Soren to be physically present before the special court after noting that he had allegedly ignored multiple ED summons.
The bench of Justice Anil Kumar Choudhary had made it clear that the Chief Minister’s physical presence in the lower court was mandatory for the day’s proceedings. The next hearing in the special court is scheduled for December 12.
Earlier, during the High Court hearing, Soren had requested an exemption from personal appearance in the lower court, arguing that the December 12 proceedings in the MP-MLA court could affect a petition pending before the High Court if charges were framed that day.
In response, the High Court directed that if Soren’s legal team seeks adjournment on December 12, the special court should accept the request and set the next date after December 18.
The High Court has sought a reply from the ED and fixed December 18 as the next date of hearing in the matter.
According to the allegations, the ED had issued 10 summons to the Chief Minister in connection with a land-related case, but he appeared before the agency in only two instances. The agency claims this amounts to non-compliance with a lawful summons.
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