Bombay High Court: If agencies like the ED, CBI, and RBI, and the judiciary do not act independently, there is a threat to India's democracy.

While hearing a petition filed by Eknath Khadse, the Bombay HC said agencies like ED, CBI, RBI, and judiciary should function independently.

While hearing a petition filed by Eknath Khadse, the Bombay HC said agencies like ED, CBI, RBI, and judiciary should function independently. A division bench comprising of Justices S.S. Shinde and Manish Pitale at the Bombay high court were hearing a petition filed by NCP leader Eknath Khadse in an alleged land grab case from 2016. The petition sought to reject the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered by the Enforcement Directorate (E.D.) in October 2020. Khadse's counsel, Abad Ponda, appealed to the court to grant the former state revenue minister interim protection from threats.

While hearing the case, Shinde said: “What heavens are going to fall if the petitioner is given protection for a few more days?”. He added that: “We are always of the belief that the judiciary and agencies like the RBI, CBI, E.D. and so on should act independently and impartially. The court further noted that: “There is a threat to democracy if these agencies do not function independently.”

An affidavit filed by the E.D. alleged that Khadse had misused his political position in 2016 and requested that the petition seeking to reject the ECIR was premature and should be dismissed. However, the bench further questioned the need for his arrest as Khadse was cooperating with the investigation and had also appeared before the agency for questioning.

"The ED in its affidavit said the court has till date not accepted the closure report and hence, the FIR is not closed", noted LiveLaw.