SC refuses to entertain plea of 14 parties alleging misuse of CBI, ED

New Delhi, April 5: The Supreme Court refused to hear a petition filed by 14 parties, led by Congress, alleging arbitrary arrests of opposition leaders by central investigation agencies and seeking new standards governing arrest and remand.

A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala stated that “laying down general guidelines without having relation to facts of a case will be dangerous”.

Singhvi, who represented the petitioners, said that mass arrests are a threat to democracy and a sign of authoritarianism. Justice Chandrachud replied, "When you say that space for opposition has shrunk, the remedy is in that space, the political space. Not the Court."

Sensing the Supreme Court's unwillingness to hear the petition, senior attorney Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the political parties, asked for permission to withdraw the petition.

“Learned counsel seeks permission to withdraw the plea at this stage. The petition is accordingly dismissed as withdrawn,” the bench further ordered.

The apex court also urged the parties to come in an appropriate case or group of cases where a political leader is targeted.

“You please come back to us when you have an individual criminal case or group of cases,” the bench added.

The court also stated that guidelines cannot be sought solely for politicians based on statistics showing the highest number of cases filed by central investigative agencies against opposition leaders because they are not immune from prosecution. The court went on to say that political leaders are on the same level as common citizens.

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