The Supreme Court on Wednesday (May 22) dismissed the plea challenging the arrest of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

After a vacation bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma expressed disinclination to entertain the matter, the petitioner chose to withdraw the petition. The bench orally observed during the hearing that the petitioner had not disclosed facts relating to the Special Court taking cognizance of the complaint filed by the ED, LiveLaw reported.

Questioning senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Soren, the bench said, “Tell us why was this not mentioned anywhere that cognisance has been taken. Why was cognisance not disclosed?” Following that Sibal withdrew the plea.

On Tuesday, the court had asked Soren’s counsel if the validity of arrest can be examined after the trial court has taken cognisance of the ED complaint and rejected Soren’s regular bail application.

The ED arrested Soren in late January in what it claims is a money laundering case. Soren was sitting chief minister then and resigned hours before his arrest. He has denied all the allegations and called the case political vendetta by the BJP.