The Supreme Court has declined to directly intervene in the arrest of former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Hemant Soren, by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) concerning a money laundering probe linked to a land scam. 

A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh, and Bela M Trivedi firmly directed Soren to pursue his case initially through the Jharkhand High Court instead of directly approaching the Supreme Court. This directive came amidst Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal's representation on behalf of Soren, emphasizing the significance of the former Chief Minister's stature.

Justice Khanna's query, "Why has he not approached the High Court? Why here (Supreme Court) directly?" echoed the court's insistence on adhering to the hierarchical legal process. The bench underscored the principle of equal access to justice for all citizens, firmly stating, "Courts are open to everybody. If we allow one person, then we have to allow everybody."

In response to Soren's plea, the Supreme Court reiterated its stance, making it unequivocally clear that it was disinclined to entertain the petition directly and urged Soren to pursue his case through the jurisdictional High Court. "Please go to the High Court, we will not interfere," emphasized Justice Khanna.

Hemant Soren's legal woes stem from accusations by the Enforcement Directorate regarding his alleged involvement in a significant land scam in Jharkhand. The agency's investigation has implicated several individuals, including Soren and former IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Despite denying the allegations, Soren's arrest and subsequent legal battles have garnered substantial attention.

Soren's decision to challenge all summons issued to him in the case, coupled with his plea seeking protection from coercive actions by central agencies, reflects his determination to clear his name. Emphasizing that the summons lacked specific details of the probe against him, Soren reiterated that his personal assets were acquired through legitimate means, duly declared in tax returns.

Amidst the legal wrangling, Soren's resignation from the Chief Minister's post on January 31, following his arrest by the ED, adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding legal drama. 

Case: Hemant Soren vs Union of India and anr.