​On April 24, 2025, the Supreme Court of India reaffirmed that a prospective accused cannot challenge an order directing a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into an ongoing criminal investigation. The Court dismissed an appeal against a Karnataka High Court order that had mandated a CBI investigation into the alleged murder of K. Raghunath, a Bengaluru-based realtor and close associate of former Member of Parliament D.K. Adikeshavalu.

Prospective Accused’s Lack of Standing: The Court held that individuals who are merely potential suspects or accused cannot contest the initiation of a CBI investigation. The decision to assign a case to a particular investigative agency is within the judicial discretion of the Court.

Judicial Discretion in Agency Assignment: The bench emphasized that the authority to direct an investigation by a specific agency, such as the CBI, lies with the judiciary and is not subject to challenge by prospective suspects or accused individuals.

Affirmation of High Court’s Decision: The Supreme Court upheld the Karnataka High Court’s directive for a CBI probe into the murder case, thereby reinforcing the principle that once an FIR is registered and an investigation has commenced, the assignment of the case to a specialized agency is not open to challenge by prospective suspects.

This ruling underscores the judiciary’s authority to determine the course of criminal investigations and limits the ability of prospective accused individuals to interfere with the process.​

Sources