The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has approached the Supreme Court to appeal against the Jharkhand High Court's decision to grant bail to JMM leader Hemant Soren. This relates to a money laundering case connected to an alleged land scam.

On June 28, the high court granted bail to Mr. Soren, who subsequently took oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on July 4. Mr. Soren, the Executive President of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), had resigned from the chief minister's post shortly before his arrest on January 31 by the ED in connection with the case.

During the high court hearing, the ED's counsel argued that releasing Mr. Soren on bail could potentially lead to him committing similar offences. The counsel also cited cases involving ED officers in the SC/ST police station as reference points.

"Though the conduct of the petitioner has been sought to be highlighted by the Enforcement Directorate on account of the First Information Report instituted by the petitioner against the officials of the ED, but on an overall conspectus of the case, there is no likelihood of the petitioner committing a similar nature of offence," the high court had said.