"Extend Deadline For Removing Probe Agency Chief": Centre To Supreme Court

Days after the Supreme Court ruled that the third extension given to Enforcement Directorate chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra was illegal, the centre has approached the court seeking an amendment of the July 31 deadline set by it for Mr Mishra's removal. 

The central government has sought a modification of the order and asked that the deadline be extended till October 31. It cited an ongoing peer review by the global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to seek the extension.

"The present ED Director has been engaged in preparation of documents and other requirements for Mutual Evaluation of India since the beginning of 2020. Accordingly, his continuation in this arduous and delicate process is essential," the centre told the court. 

On July 11, the Supreme Court had termed the third extension given to Mr Mishra illegal and said that it violated a 2021 judgment of the court. However, it let him continue till July 31 after the centre expressed concern about continuity in the middle of the FATF review. The government was asked to appoint a new director of the probe agency.

After the judgment, Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala, who had filed one of the petitions in the case, claimed it had become clear that the government is "misusing" agencies to destabilise elected governments in non-BJP-ruled states and target opposition leaders.

"This is a victory of justice and vindication of our stand on brazen misuse and compromise of ED for political vendetta as also the blatant pursuit of Modi government's desperate and obvious agenda," Mr Surjewala had said on Twitter.

"This is a serious and historic indictment of the Modi government, which was so desperate to have its choice of ED Chief (for reasons apparent to all) that it completely disregarded all norms of justice, equity and fairness to install its 'yes man'," he had alleged.