14 opposition parties move SC, alleging misuse of central investigating agencies

New Delhi (India), March 23, 2023: Fourteen opposition parties in India have approached the country’s Supreme Court to raise concerns over the alleged misuse of central investigating agencies by the government.

The parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and Bharat Rashtra Samithi, have claimed that agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are being used to target only those who oppose the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

They have also accused the government of dropping or burying cases against leaders once they join the BJP. In response, the BJP has denied these allegations, stating that the agencies operate independently.

The opposition parties are seeking pre- and post-arrest guidelines to be followed by the central probe agencies. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the parties, said, “Ninety-five percent of cases are against opposition leaders. We are asking for pre-arrest guidelines and post-arrest guidelines.”

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, has scheduled a hearing for April 5 to consider the allegations. The parties filing the case include the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Samajwadi Party, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), the National Conference, the Nationalist Congress Party, the Left, and the DMK.

AAP sources suggest that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal played a key role in bringing together parties that are often not on the same page. Kejriwal’s former deputy, Manish Sisodia, was recently arrested by the CBI and later by the ED.