New Delhi, Feb. 25 -- The Supreme Court has stayed criminal proceedings initiated against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on a complaint filed by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) alleging disobedience/failure to appear on its summons in connection with a land acquisition case.

A bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant passed the order and also issued notice to ED seeking a response to Soren's plea.

"Counsel accepts notice on behalf of ED. Counter affidavit (by ED) shall be filed in four weeks. A rejoinder (if any) in two weeks thereafter", the Court noted, as per a report in news agency ANI.

Soren had moved the apex court after the Jharkhand High Court rejected his plea to stay criminal proceedings in the 'dis...