New Delhi, May 20 -- The Enforcement Directorate opposed in the Supreme Court on Monday former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren's plea seeking interim bail in a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam to campaign in the Lok Sabha polls.
In its affidavit filed in the top court on Soren's plea against his arrest and for interim bail, the probe agency said the materials on record establish that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader was involved in the acquisition and possession of properties in an illegal manner which are proceeds of crime.
A vacation bench headed by Justice Dipankar Datta is scheduled to hear Soren's plea against his arrest and interim bail on Tuesday. "Various statements recorded under section 50 of PMLA, 2002, which establish that property admeasuring 8.86 acres, situated at Shanti Nagar, Near Lalu Khatal, Bariyatu is under illegal acquisition, possession and use of Hemant Soren and the same has been done in a camouflaged and concealed manner," the agency said. Opposing the interim bail of Soren for campaigning during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the ED said, "It is relevant to note that the right to campaign for an election is neither a fundamental right nor a constitutional right and not even a legal right."
The probe agency said that there is an active attempt on Soren's part to subvert the investigation by misusing state machinery and project the proceeds of crime as "untainted through his stooges."
Soren was arrested on January 31 in the money-laundering case.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.