New Delhi, May 17 (Agency) The Supreme Court on Friday postponed the hearing on the bail plea of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren to Tuesday, May 21 in the money laundering charges. The case will now be reviewed by a vacation bench as the Apex Court closes for Summer Vacation. Soren, the JMM chief, was arrested in January on charges of money laundering. Soren had moved the Apex court challenging the Jharkhand High Court order which did not pass any order on his bail plea, which was reserved in February. The High Court on May 3 had given a very long date to hear Soren’s bail plea. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju were present in the court. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju said Soren was arrested long back before the election so there is no question of interim bail.
A bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta posted the matter on May 21. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said, “Let me tell you what the issue is -There are three phases in Jharkhand elections which are till May 20 and there is urgency because of elections,” Sibal said. The Bench said, “I read somewhere that you have been is possession of said land since 2009-10…there are pictures of the land, there are boundary walls constructed. Your regular bail has been rejected.” Sibal said, “The court is on vacation so that is out of question. It is my right to be heard.” The Bench said,” We have to be prima facie satisfied if there is an issue. Either we can keep it next week.” The Court then re-Listed the matter on Tuesday, May 21 before the vacation bench and said, “File your reply by then.”