SC to hear joint plea of 14 political parties alleging arbitrary use of ED, CBI against opposition leaders

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear the plea jointly filed by 14 political parties led by Congress alleging arbitrary use of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in arresting the opposition leaders.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud agreed to list the matter on April 5.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned the plea filed by 14 political parties against the arbitrary use of probe agencies ED and CBI.

Senior Advocate Singhvi submitted before the top court that the plea sought guidelines for pre-arrest and post-arrest and their enforcement.

SC agrees to hear on April 5 plea filed by 14 political parties led by Congress alleging arbitrary use of ED and CBI in arresting opposition leaders. pic.twitter.com/yOYiTgI0tn

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Senior Advocate Singhvi said, “Today ED and CBI are being used against leaders of opposition parties and 95 per cent of cases are of opposition leaders. We’re asking for pre-arrest guidelines and post-arrest guidelines.”

The lawyer said that these political parties are saying that democracy is in peril. He also said that they don’t want to try to affect the existing investigations.

Various parties which have approached the top court include Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Rashtriya Janta Dal, Bharat Rashtra Samiti, All India Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, National Conference, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena Uddhav camp, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Janata Dal (United), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Samajwadi Party (SP).