Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 19: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a writ petition seeking a CBI investigation into alleged horse-trading by the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu, observing that the plea was based on vague and unsubstantiated allegations.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana refused to entertain the petition filed by Madurai resident K K Ramesh, who had sought a probe into alleged political defections orchestrated through bribery or coercion.

After hearing submissions made by the petitioner’s counsel, the apex court said there was no material on record to support the allegations.

“This writ petition is based on vague, wild and casual allegations without any material. We see no ground to entertain this petition,” the bench observed while dismissing the plea.

The petitioner had urged the court to order a CBI investigation into the alleged inducement of legislators to switch political loyalties.

The Supreme Court’s decision comes days after the Madras High Court rejected a similar public interest litigation seeking a CBI probe into allegations that four AIADMK MLAs were induced to resign from their party and join the ruling TVK.

A division bench of the Madras High Court had questioned the maintainability of the petition and held that there was no evidence indicating corrupt practices or foul play behind the resignations.

The high court observed that the petition was founded on suspicion and lacked the factual basis required to invoke its extraordinary jurisdiction.

It further reiterated that a CBI investigation could only be ordered in exceptional cases where a prima facie cognisable offence is supported by concrete evidence.

The court also clarified that political defections by themselves do not constitute criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act in the absence of proof of an unlawful quid pro quo.

The ruling effectively closes the legal challenge seeking a central probe into the alleged political defections involving the ruling party in Tamil Nadu.