Supreme Court Halts Proceedings Against Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in Land Scam Case

The Supreme Court has intervened in the case against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, staying criminal proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate over allegations of a land scam. Soren, accused of ignoring multiple summons, has challenged a prior ruling from the Jharkhand High Court. The Enforcement Directorate claims that Soren is linked to a land mafia involved in tampering with official records. As the case unfolds, Soren maintains his innocence, denying any connection to the allegations. This development raises significant questions about the ongoing investigation and its implications for Soren's political future.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 25, 2026, 16:22 IST

Supreme Court's Intervention

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court intervened to stay the criminal proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate against Hemant Soren, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. He is accused of deliberately ignoring multiple summons related to an alleged land scam.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was reviewing a petition from Soren that contested a January 15 ruling from the Jharkhand High Court, which had declined to dismiss the ongoing proceedings.

During the hearing, the court temporarily suspended the proceedings and directed the Enforcement Directorate to respond within four weeks.

Background of the Case

The Enforcement Directorate had lodged a complaint against Soren in the MP-MLA court in Ranchi, asserting that he failed to comply with ten summonses, appearing only twice.

Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31, 2024, shortly after resigning from his position as Chief Minister following questioning by the agency. He was later granted bail on June 28, 2024, and resumed his role as Chief Minister.

The Enforcement Directorate claims that a land mafia in Jharkhand was involved in manipulating official land records, with some of the illegally acquired land allegedly coming into Soren's possession.

Allegations and Accusations

The chargesheet submitted by the Enforcement Directorate on March 30 named several individuals, including Soren, as part of the alleged land scam. The agency has also seized 8.86 acres of land purportedly owned by Soren.

The primary suspect in this case is Bhanu Pratap Prasad, a former official in the Jharkhand revenue department, who is accused of being part of a syndicate that acquired properties through illegal means.

The Enforcement Directorate alleges that Prasad conspired with Soren and others to unlawfully take over properties, with evidence of these activities found on Prasad's phone.

Furthermore, the agency claims that Soren acquired land in Ranchi through illicit funds linked to money laundering and has been accused of misusing his authority to conceal evidence after receiving his first summons.

Soren's Defense

In response to the allegations, Soren has denied any connection to the disputed property and claims he has no ties to Prasad.