Justice U U Lalit, Justice S.R. Bhat and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia heard the arguments of the counsel for the parties. Soren was accused of allotting himself a mining lease as the state's mining minister
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on separate petitions by the state government and Chief Minister Hemant Soren against an order of the Jharkhand High Court.
Justice U U Lalit, Justice S.R. Bhat and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia heard the arguments of the counsel for the parties. The bench said, "The arguments of the lawyers of the parties are heard, the order is reserved, since the matter is with the apex court, the high court will not proceed with the matter."
There is an allegation of giving himself a mining lease
The apex court said that a copy of the petition as annexure and the arguments made by the parties be kept on record. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national vice-president and former Jharkhand chief minister Raghuvar Das had claimed in February this year that Soren had misused his position and benefited himself from a mining lease. He said the issue involved both conflict of interest and corruption.
He alleged that the provisions of the Representation of the People Act have been violated. Taking cognizance of the controversy, the Election Commission had in May sent a notice to Soren seeking his clarification on the mining lease issued to him. This lease was issued to him when the mining and environment department was with him.
Petition was filed in High Court
The petition, filed in the Jharkhand High Court, sought an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the grant of mining leases. Simultaneously, the family members and associates of the Chief Minister were also urged to investigate the transactions of some fake companies allegedly affiliated.