Jharkhand Ex-Chief Soren Faces Lokpal Inquiry Over Corruption Charges, Delhi HC Allows Proceedings for Now
Court Rejects Plea to Quash Complaint, Citing Need for Investigation
On Monday, the Delhi High Court declined to intervene in the legal action taken by the Lokpal against Shibu Soren, the leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, after a complaint filed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
The plea filed by the former chief minister of Jharkhand to challenge the Lokpal proceedings and the complaint was deemed "premature" by Justice Subramonium Prasad.
In rendering her decision on Soren's petition, the court said that it is premature at this point.
A duplicate of the ruling is anticipated.
Dubey, the BJP Lok Sabha MP from Godda in Jharkhand, made the following accusation in August 2020: "Shibu Soren and his family members have been grossly indulged in corruption and have acquired huge wealth and properties by misusing the public exchequer."
The high court halted the Lokpal proceedings on September 12, 2022, stating that the issue needed to be given careful thought.
Soren claimed before the high court that the case against him was "purely malafide" and "politically motivated," attacking both the complaint and the Lokpal procedures.
He said that since the charges included a period of time that was seven years prior to the complaint filing date, the anti-corruption ombudsman was unable to consider the complaint.
