Central agencies being misused; Judiciary must intervene: Patole

Mumbai: Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole alleged on Thursday that the central probe agencies like Enforcement Directorate (ED) are misused by the Union government, and therefore, the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court must intervene to stop it, PTI reported.

Patole said that the misuse of these agencies is similar to an undeclared emergency. His comments come after the ED conducted searches at Advocate Satish Uke's house, who had made many petitions against BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis in the past few years.

Uke has been representing Patole on a defamation case of Rs 500 crore he had filed against the IPS officer and former state intelligence chief Rashmi Shukla, and other officers for illegal tapping of Patole's phone.

Patole said he is ready to welcome ED if the agency is planning a move on him.

Patole alleged that the agencies are used to stifle the voices raised against the BJP and the Union government. The action against Uke was taken to muzzle the lawyer's voice, he said.

ED is being used to charge fake cases against those who speak against the BJP-led Union government, he alleged. While the agency was formed to act on cases of international money laundering for drugs, terror funding and other crimes, it has deviated from its original purpose. Central agencies have become puppets in the hands of the Union government, he added.