Fourteen opposition parties, including the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), have moved the Supreme Court alleging misuse of central agencies by the government. The parties alleged that agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have been targeting opposition leaders.
“95 per cent of the cases are against opposition leaders,” said senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for the opposition parties. The parties also said cases against leaders are frequently dropped or buried once they join the BJP, NDTV reported. The parties are seeking pre- and post-arrest guidelines to be followed by the central probe agencies.
Other parties which have filed the case include the Trinamool Congress, Janata Dal-United, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), National Conference, Nationalist Congress Party, the Left and the DMK.
A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud took note of the submissions and listed it for hearing on April 5.
The Opposition has been alleging that the government has been targeting its leaders through the CBI, ED and other probe agencies. The agencies have been carrying out investigations against several leaders, including former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha, RJD leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, among others. Sisodia and Jain are currently in jail.
Reacting to the allegations, Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently said the agencies are working 'impartially' without any political interference.
