New Delhi
In a blow to Rajya Sabha MP and JMM patriarch Shibu Soren, a division bench of Justices Rekha Palli and Rajnish Bhatnagar of the Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal filed by him to quash the Lokpal proceedings against him in a case related to alleged accumulation of disproportionate assets. Soren senior had challenged a single-judge order.
The bench pointed out that the Lokpal is yet to decide whether a prima facie case exists against Shibu Soren for ordering investigation by any agency like the CBI and that from the allegations of corruption levelled by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey against Soren, it is evident that the complaint related to purchase of properties bought more than seven years ago and also to ongoing incidents of amassing wealth by misuse of power.
The latest development has come as yet another blow to the first family of the JMM as former Chief Minister and Shibu Soren’s son is already in ED custody having been arrested on January 31 in an alleged money laundering case linked to a land scam. Hemant had to resign from his post thereafter and senior JMM MLA Champai Soren has since taken over him.
Shibu Soren had approached the Delhi High Court challenging the proceedings before the Lokpal and its order dated August 4, 2022, through which proceedings were directed to be initiated to determine whether a prima facie case exists to proceed further against him.
Last month, a single-judge had held that Soren’s plea was premature as the Lokpal was yet to apply its mind to the information provided by the CBI and decide whether an investigation is necessary or not. The single-judge also rejected the argument that the complaint filed against him was completely motivated and Lokpal would invariably order investigation. Following this, Soren filed an appeal before the division bench.
Dubey had in 2020 alleged that the former Chief Minister amassed huge wealth, properties and assets by adopting unscrupulous and corrupt means in Jharkhand over a period of more than 10 years.
The assets, he alleged, are not only in his own name but even in the names of his family members including sons, daughters, daughter-in-law, friends and various companies in various districts of Jharkhand such as Ranchi, Dhanbad and Dumka. But Soren rejected all the allegations and termed the complaint as mischievous, false, frivolous and motivated.
While senior advocate Kapil Sibal represented Shibu Soren, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Lokpal.
