Oppn dismayed over ‘enhanced’ powers of ED after SC judgment

NEW DELHI: The Opposition on Wednesday expressed deep apprehensions on long-term implications of the recent Supreme Court judgment upholding the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, allowing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to retain a lot of brazen powers that can be exercised by the agency during the course of various investigations.

The 17 Opposition parties issued a joint statement, saying the judgment should have awaited the verdict of a larger bench for examining the constitutionality of the Finance Act route to carry out amendments. This comes after ED raids against several Opposition leaders and the office of the National Herald in the national capital.   

Both the Houses of Parliament also saw protests with the Opposition raising misuse of investigative agencies by the government to target party leaders. The Lok Sabha saw repeated adjournments over the issue while in Rajya Sabha opposition MPs from Congress, Shiv Sena and AAP gave notices to discuss “misuse” of central agencies but were turned down by Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu.   

The joint statement was signed by the Opposition parties, including Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiv Sena, NCP, CPI-M, CPI, IUML, RSP, MDMK, RJD and RLD.Alleging that the amendments have made it more conducive for the government to engage in political vendetta, the joint statement said the judgment will have the long-term implications of the recent.

“These far-reaching amendments strengthened the hands of a government, indulging in political vendetta of the worst kind, by using these very amended laws relating to money laundering and investigation agencies, to target its political opponents in a mischievous and malicious manner,” said the statement.

“We are also very disappointed that the highest judicial authority, invited to give an independent verdict on the lack of checks and balances in the Act, has virtually reproduced arguments given by the executive in support of draconian amendments. We hope that the dangerous verdict will be short lived and constitutional provisions will prevail soon,” it further added.

The SC on 22 July had upheld several provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, allowing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to retain a lot of brazen powers, including that of arrest, attachment, search and seizure.