Supreme Court Dismisses ED Plea Against Karnataka CM’s Wife And Minister; Warns Against Political Misuse

Bengaluru, July 21: In a setback to the Enforcement Directorate, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the Special Leave Petition filed by the ED, challenging the Karnataka High Court order of setting aside the money laundering proceedings initiated against the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife B M Parvathi and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh, in connection with alleged illegal allotment of sites by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

The Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandra were harsh on the fact that ED was being misused to settle political scores. Soon after the proceedings started, CJI Justice B R Gavai turned to Assistant Solicitor General S V Raju and said: "Unfortunately, I have some experience in Maharashtra. Please do not force us to say something. Otherwise we have to say something harsh about the Enforcement Directorate... let political battles be fought among the electorate. Why are you being used for it?''.

At this moment, ASG S V Raju said: "OK... we will withdraw. But let it not be treated as a precedent.CJU Gavai noted that the bench did not find any error in reasoning adopted in the approach of the single judge and said that the bench was dismissing the case. "We should thank ASG for saving some harsh comments,'' he added.