Supreme Court dismisses ED's plea against grant of bail to accused in Jharkhand land 'scam'

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren accused in money laundering case related to land scam, bail conditions under scrutiny.

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea of the Enforcement Directorate challenging the grant of bail to an accused in a money laundering case related to the sale of 4.55 acres of land of the Indian Army in Ranchi, allegedly by creating false property documents.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is out on bail, is also an accused in a money laundering case arising from the alleged land scam.

A bench of Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma said the November 28, 2023, order of the Jharkhand High Court granting bail to accused Dilip Ghosh will not be treated as a precedent in case of other co-accused.

"Under the circumstances, without expressing any opinions on the merits of the case, rather clarifying that the impugned judgment and order passed by the high court shall not be cited as a precedent in case of other co-accused and any of the observations made therein, shall not influence the trial court/ special court during the course of trial, we are not inclined to interfere with the same," the Bench said in its order passed on Friday (September 6).

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It, however, directed the special court to expedite the trial and noted that charges against Mr. Ghosh and other co-accused have already been framed by the lower court and the trial is about to commence.

The Bench also gave liberty to the Enforcement Directorate to seek cancellation of the bail granted to Mr. Ghosh by the High Court in case any of the bail conditions imposed by the High Court are violated or breached, or any delay tactics are used by him.