Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has approached the Supreme Court with a fresh petition challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate, saying that the Jharkhand High Court has not yet delivered judgment on his petition despite concluding the arguments way back on February 28.

Since his arrest by the ED on January 31, the JMM leader has remained in custody. However, on February 2, the Supreme Court declined to consider his earlier petition contesting the ED's arrest, directing him to seek recourse through the High Court instead.

Today, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Soren, brought up the new petition before Justice Sanjiv Khanna, urging for its urgent listing. Sibal expressed concern that due to the delay in the High Court's judgment, Soren finds himself in a legal impasse, unable to progress or regress in seeking legal remedies.

"Now we again went to the (high) court and said I can't move forward or backward, atleast please render the judgment. The judge said nothing. The man will be inside and elections will be over. Where do we go", Sibal said.

Justice Khanna informed Sibal that an email request must be sent to the Chief Justice's Secretariat for urgent listing. Sibal mentioned that he had already taken this step, to which Justice Khanna responded that the decision on the listing date ultimately rests with the Chief Justice of India.

When Sibal asked for the listing on Friday, Justice Khanna replied, "No, I'm not saying anything. The CJ Secretariat will give the dates." This exchange occurred because the matter was brought before Justice Khanna, the second senior judge of the Supreme Court, as Chief Justice DY Chandrachud was engaged in a Constitution Bench hearing.