Today,  the Supreme Court issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in response to a plea filed by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren challenging his arrest in a money laundering case.

The Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta scheduled a hearing for Soren's plea on May 17, in response to his challenge against his arrest in a money laundering case.

Despite the Court's previous inclination to list the matter in July or during the summer vacation, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal insisted on an urgent hearing due to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Expressing disappointment over the Court's refusal to consider hearing the matter earlier, Sibal even submitted that Soren's plea may be dismissed.

"Then dismiss it...elections are over. Kejriwal order covers me," Sibal said, while referring to the recent order granting interim bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi Excise Policy case.

Sibal further suggested that if the Court did not wish to hear the matter before July, Soren could be granted interim bail. However, the Court stated that it would not grant such relief without hearing the ED. Amid the back and forth between the Court and Sibal over the listing of the case, the senior lawyer even suggested at one point the withdrawal of Soren's plea.

"What? We are giving shortest possible time," Justice Khanna said in response.

Ultimately, the Court agreed to list the matter for consideration on May 17.