Consent will have to be taken on a case-by-case basis. (File)
Jaipur:
The government of Rajasthan has withdrawn its “general consent” to the CBI to conduct raids and investigations, and the agency will now need prior state authorization, a development that comes amid a political crisis in Rajasthan.
The state government issued a notification requiring the CBI to obtain the prior consent of the state government to investigate an offense under section three of the Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. Delhi (DSPE).
Officials say the “general consent” of the state government will no longer be valid in offenses covered by this law.
Consent will have to be taken on a case-by-case basis.
The additional chief secretary at home, Rohit Kumar Singh, said: “His administrative arrangements were already there, he was notified yesterday.”
Officials said that in June 1990 also the government of Rajasthan refused to give such “general consent” to the center.
The BJP questioned the Rajasthan government decision, saying there is an “indirect emergency” in the state.
“The way the state government abused SOG and ACB and was afraid of CBI action … There is something fishy,” said BJP chairman Satish Poonia , to journalists.
The ruling Congress faces a rebellion by party leader Sachin Pilot and 18 other MPs against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. A state police investigation into alleged horse trading charges based on alleged eavesdropping by some executives has made the situation more murky.
Similar CBI-related action was taken by the governments of West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh in 2018, alleging that the Center was abusing the agency to harass opponents.
