Supreme Court today refused to grant interim bail to former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. Citing recent release of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from jail as an example, Mr Soren sought interim bail to campaign for his party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta heard Mr Soren’s petition, challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating the money laundering allegations. While refusing to grant interim relief to Mr Soren, the apex court scheduled the matter for next hearing on 17th of this month. The Supreme Court’s decision came after the Jharkhand High Court dismissed Mr Soren’s plea against his arrest. The JMM leader was arrested on January 31 and at present lodged in judicial custody at the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi.