'Why do you use machinery for political battles?': Supreme Court pulls up CBI, rejects its plea for probe in Jharkhand

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, said, 'It is shocking that when matters come up, the CBI appears in that court beforehand.'

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to consider a plea by the CBI for its nod to initiate a preliminary enquiry into the allegations of irregularities in appointments and promotions in Jharkhand Assembly Secretariat.

A bench of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran questioned why the central agency was using the machinery in “political battles”.

The court was hearing an interim application of the CBI seeking the nod to initiate a preliminary enquiry.

In November, last year, the court had put on hold the Jharkhand High Court verdict of September 23, 2024, which had directed the central agency to inquire into the alleged irregularities in appointments and promotions in the State Assembly.

Considering the matter, the bench said that it is not keen to entertain the plea by the probe agency.

“Why do you use the machinery for your political battles? We have told you so many times," the bench asked.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, for the Jharkhand Assembly Secretariat, submitted that it is shocking that when matters come up, the CBI appears in that court beforehand.

"Not in this case," said Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, who was representing the CBI.

He contended that the CBI appears when there is an offence. However, the bench was not convinced.