Rajya Sabha member Pappu Yadav has ignited a fresh debate on the autonomy of India’s premier investigative agencies, ED and CBI, by questioning their suspiciously timed operations. Speaking to reporters in Bihar’s capital, he asked pointedly: ‘If corruption is so rampant, why do ED and CBI become hyperactive only when elections are near?’
This isn’t the first time Yadav has raised the alarm. Over the years, he has consistently highlighted what he calls the ‘poll-time playbook’ of the central agencies. Recent actions against opposition heavyweights in states gearing up for elections have only fueled his suspicions. From money laundering probes to disproportionate assets cases, the timing couldn’t be more convenient for the ruling dispensation, he argued.
Delving deeper, Yadav recounted how several BJP leaders accused of massive scams have escaped the agencies’ net. ‘Show me one instance where a ruling party minister was raided before elections,’ he challenged, flipping the script on the government’s zero-tolerance rhetoric against graft.
The controversy comes at a time when the opposition is uniting to counter what it perceives as misuse of state machinery. Pappu Yadav’s rhetoric could amplify calls for electoral reforms, including restrictions on agency actions during the model code of conduct period. Legal experts are divided, with some backing the need for oversight while others defend the agencies’ independence.
As Yadav’s words echo across social media and newsrooms, the nation watches closely. Is this a legitimate grievance or political posturing? The answer may shape the narrative of upcoming electoral battles, forcing a reckoning on the balance between investigation and democracy.