The Supreme Court on Thursday is all set to hear a clutch of petitions against its ruling on money laundering act. Last month it had given a thumps up to ED's extensive power while conducting searches, seize and arrest.
The top court's order was challenged in multiple petitions with applicants citing misuse of power by the probe agency especially in cases against Opposition.
Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi are currently being probed by ED in National Herald case. Another Congress leader Karti Chidambaram, an accused in a money laundering case, had opposed the apex court's order seeking a stay on it.
The court in its last month ruling had held that ED is not bound to share the Enforcement Case Information Report copy with the accused and the document cannot be likened with the First Information Report.
It had declared that ED's power of arrest is not arbitrary, emphasising that money laundering not only affects nation's economy but also paves the way for crimes as heinous as terrorism
The latest hearing is taking place in the wake of multiple raids against Opposition leaders by probe agencies including CBI. The recent case is that of Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia who was raided last Friday by CBI in connection with Delhi liquor scam. He is also being probed by ED in the case.
Likewise, former Maharashtra ministers Nawab Malik, Anil Deshmukh are already in jail in a money laundering case. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has also been sent into police custody in an alleged corrupion case of a redevelopment project plan.
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