14 parties, led by Cong, move Supreme Court against 'arbitrary use' of CBI, ED
AAP's Manish Sisodia, Bharat Rashtra Samithi's K Kavitha and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav are being investigated by agencies in two different cases. Sisodia has been arrested by CBI and ED in Delhi liquor case.
Fourteen political parties, including the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, Rashtriya Janta Dal, Trinamool Congress, and DMK on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking pre-arrest and post-arrest guidelines for the CBI and ED due to 'arbitrary arrest of opposition leaders'. The Apex Court agreed to list the plea on April 5. The plea comes a day after a Surat court sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to 2-year jail in a 2019 defamation case which has become the latest flashpoint between the government and the opposition parties. While several non-congress chief ministers condemned the Surat court verdict on Rahul Gandhi, the Congress on Friday scheduled a meeting of the opposition parties. AAP's Manish Sisodia, BRS's K Kavitha and RJD's Tejashwi are the prominent leaders on the radar of the central agencies.
Manish Sisodia has been arrested by CBI and ED in the alleged Delhi liquor scam, K Kavitha has been questioned in connection with the same case and Tejashwi and his family members are being investigated for the land-for-job case.
Congress's Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the 14 parties represent 42% spectrum. "They are saying that democracy is in peril. We are not trying to affect the existing investigation. 95% of cases are on opposition leaders. We are asking for pre- and post-arrest guidelines."
