Key Highlights
- Observing that the petitions raised “serious questions”, the Bench said it was prima facie of the view that the matter involved interference by State agencies in investigations conducted by Central agencies.
- “For adherence to the rule of law and to allow each organ to function independently, it is necessary to examine these issues so that offenders are not protected under the seal of law-enforcing agencies of a particular State,” the Court observed.
- It cautioned that failure to examine such issues could lead to a situation of “lawlessness” in one or the other State.
- The Court clarified that while central agencies have no authority to interfere in election-related activities of political parties, political parties equally cannot obstruct bona fide investigations by statutory agencies.
- Directing an immediate intervention, the Bench granted two weeks’ time to the respondents to file their replies.
