ED 'copy-pastes' Chidambaram petition in plea against DKS, invites SC's wrath

SC quashes ED appeal against D.K. Shivakumar’s bail in money laundering case

PTI9_13_2019_000087B Karnataka Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar | File

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had an embarassing moment on Friday in the Supreme Court as its plea challenging the Delhi High Court order granting bail to Karnataka Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar in a money laundering case was being heard by the apex court. The ED's plea submitted against Shivakumar seemed 'copy-pasted' from their petition against former Union minister P. Chidambaram as it referred to the Karnataka Congress legislator as former Home Minister, reported LiveLaw

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the ED, had to bear the brunt as the mistake irked Justice R.F. Nariman. "This is no way to treat citizens," Nariman slammed Mehta as the latter asked the apex court not to dismiss ED's plea against the bail granted to Shivakumar. The bench, also comprising Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, dismissed the ED's plea against DKS. 

"Read the Sabarimala dissent..Our judgments cannot be played with..You must educate your government that our decisions stand," Nariman added. 

Justices Nariman and Chandrachud, who were a part of the five-judge Constitution bench in the Sabarimala case, had on Thursday dissented from the majority verdict and had dismissed the plea seeking review of the apex court's earlier judgment allowing entry of women of all ages to the Sabairmala temple. Justice Nariman had penned the dissent order on behalf of himself and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud.