Bengaluru, June 17 -- Political realignment, howsoever abrupt, does not amount to criminal misconduct in the absence of evidence, the Madras High Court held on Tuesday, as it dismissed a plea seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the resignation of four All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) legislators and their subsequent induction into the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

A bench of chief justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and justice G Arul Murugan said that a CBI probe can be ordered only in exceptional cases supported by evidence of a prima facie offence, and not on the basis of vague allegations or suspicion.

The bench dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate B Ramku...