SC agrees to hear Opposition plea on ‘misuse’ of central probe agencies on April 5

Fourteen political parties, including the Congress have approached the Supreme Court, alleging the misuse of central investigating agencies by the government. The top court agreed to list the plea on April 5.

The opposition parties say agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have been targeting only opponents of the BJP.

They are seeking pre- and post-arrest guidelines to be followed by the central probe agencies such as the CBI and ED.

"Ninety-five per cent of cases are against opposition leaders. We are asking for pre-arrest guidelines and post-arrest guidelines," Singhvi said.

"We will list it on April 5," said the bench also comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice JB Pardiwala.

The parties which have moved the Supreme Court include the Congress, Janata Dal-United, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Rashtriya Janata Dal, (Uddhav Thackeray faction), Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena National Conference, Nationalist Congress Party, the Left and the DMK.

The plea comes a day after a Surat court sentenced Rahul Gandhi to 2-year jail in a 2019 defamation case which has become the latest flashpoint between the government and the opposition parties.