Ranchi: The Jharkhand high court has imposed a cost of Rs 10,000 on chief minister (CM) Hemant Soren for seeking adjournment in a case filed by four officials of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), challenging criminal prosecution initiated against them by him.The court of Justice Anil Kumar Choudhary was on Thursday hearing a petition filed by ED officers — Kapil Raj, Deovrat Jha, Anupam Kumar, and Aman Patel.Hemant had on Jan 31, 2024, lodged an FIR in Ranchi’s SC/ST Police Station, alleging harassment by the four ED officers for “being a tribal”.The ED had in 2023 initiated proceedings against him for having allegedly indulged in money laundering. The central agency officials had conducted a raid at Hemant’s residence in Delhi in Jan 2024.ED officers had in Feb 2024 challenged the notice, issued to them by SC/ST Police Station to appear before the state police, in the high court.The high court, had on March 4, 2024, issued notice to Soren and the govt to respond in the matter. It also passed an interim order of “no coercive steps” to be taken against the ED officials.The CM’s counsel sought an adjournment when the case was taken up for hearing on Thursday. Thereafter, the court noted that adjournments have been sought in the case by the govt and Hemant on several occasions earlier also. It imposed the cost of Rs 10,000 to be paid by Hemant to the Jharkhand Legal Services Authority.The matter would next be heard on Nov 2.
