SC verdict against extension given to ED chief validates our stand: Congress

The Congress said it has now become clear how the government is “misusing” agencies to target Opposition leaders and destabilise elected governments in non-BJP-ruled states.

Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala, who had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the extension of Mishra’s tenure, said the apex court also needs to reconsider the decision upholding the validity of the law on the extension of tenure of ED and CBI directors.

“This is a victory of justice and vindication of our stand on brazen misuse and compromise of ED for political vendetta as also a blatant pursuit of Modi Government’s desperate and obvious agenda,” Surjewala said.

“This is a serious and historic indictment of the Modi government, which was so desperate to have its choice of ED chief (for reasons apparent to all) that it completely disregarded all norms of justice, equity, and fairness to install its ‘yes man’,” he added.

Surjewala went on to demand a probe to scrutinise all actions taken by the ED after November 17, 2021. The Supreme Court, he said, has observed that the orders dated November 17, 2021, and November 17, 2022, granting extensions to Mishra are not valid in law.

“So, all actions taken by ED after November 17, 2021, have automatically become illegal, null and void. Thus, we demand that an independent investigation (independent of influence and pressure of Modi Government) be constituted to scrutinise all actions by ED post-November 17, 2021.

“The ED, which has already faced devastating allegations to its credibility, must reject the interference of the Modi government or risk its legacy being permanently tarnished and demolished beyond retrieval,” Surjewala said.

He said the government should also apologise for the “open and unabashed misuse” of the office of Director of ED to fulfill its “malicious political objectives and to try to muzzle the Opposition.”

“We had hoped that the SC would strike down the law which allows such abuses of the process to take place, but for now the SC has let it stand. Nonetheless, we will continue to expose, challenge, and fight to the fullest all such attempts as the Modi government may launch to try and undermine our democracy and our institutions,” Surjewala said.