National

SC Refuses To Entertain Plea By 14 Opposition Parties Alleging Misuse Of CBI, ED

AAP

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a petition by 14 Opposition parties alleging that the Centre is misusing agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate, Live Law reported.

The Indian National Congress, Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazahgam, and Rashtriya Janata Dal were among the parties who urged the court to frame pre-arrest guidelines to prevent misuse of investigative agencies.

They also sought that the “triple test” be followed before ordering arrest and remand. The test includes factors such as whether a person is a flight risk, and whether there is a reasonable apprehension of the tampering of evidence or of intimidation of witnesses.

On Wednesday, a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala said that politicians cannot claim higher immunity than common citizens. So, the bench said, a special set of guidelines cannot be issued for the politicians.

“Political leaders stand absolutely on the same standing as the citizens of the country,” the chief justice said. “They do not claim a higher identity. How can there be a different set of procedures for them?”

Abhishek Singhvi, representing the petitioners, told the court that mass arrests are a threat to democracy. “It is a sign of authoritarianism,” he added. “Process becomes the punishment.”

Chandrachud, however, said the petitioners were trying to get the court to frame rules by extrapolating statistics, which apply only to political leaders.

Singhvi had earlier said that 95% of investigations by the agencies are against Opposition leaders.

The petitioners contended that “investigating agencies such as CBI and ED are being increasingly deployed in a selective and targeted manner with a view to completely crush political dissent and upend the fundamental premises of a representative democracy”. They said this was a shocking and unconstitutional state of affairs.

 

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Karnataka Elections 2023 National

Will Only Campaign For BJP, Not Contest Assembly Polls: Kichcha Sudeep

Shashank
Kichcha Sudeep

Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeep on Wednesday said that he will campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming elections in Karnataka and dismissed speculations that he will contest as a candidate.

Interacting with the reporters at the Bengaluru airport here, the actor said, “I will only campaign for the BJP, not contest the elections.”

BJP sources had earlier said that the actor was likely to join the party today in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and other party leaders. Assembly elections in Karnataka are scheduled to be held on May 10.

Karnataka Transport Minister B Siramulu said that the BJP will benefit from the induction of the actor. “Kichcha Sudeep is a very popular leader, along with a popular actor. He is a very big artist in the whole country. His support to BJP will be of great benefit to our party”.

The Karnataka minister added that the inclusion of artists and several leaders from other parties will go towards strengthening the party.

“JDS leaders and other artists are joining BJP one after the other. Our party is strong, but with their arrival, we will be even stronger. We will get 100 percent votes for Karnataka this time,” Siramulu added.

The minister also said there is “no” anti-incumbency in the State and BJP will return to power again.

“People have a lot of faith in our party. Prime Minister is leading the country our Bommai Ji is the chief minister here. So, people want the BJP government should come here also. There is nothing like anti-incumbency here, only the Opposition people keep talking about it because they have no work. But, we will come back to power once again,” he added.

Meanwhile, police an alleged threat letter was received by Kichcha Sudeep’s manager Jack Manju on Wednesday, after which the police registered a case in the matter.

According to the police, Sudeep’s manager received a letter from an unknown person, threatening to release the actor’s “private video” on social media. The actor, meanwhile said that he will let the police handle the case.

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