The Telangana government has withdrawn its general consent to CBI to investigate cases in the state, it is seen as tactical strategy in the wake of BJP demanding an investigation by the central agency into the alleged cash for-MLA scandal.
After Telangana police detained three suspects for allegedly attempting to pay four TRS MLAs with £10 million each to defect to the BJP ahead of the crucial Munugode bypolls, calls for a CBI investigation gained traction. BJP officials filed a petition with the Telangana high court, denying the accusations, and asking for a CBI probe.
According to a state government order issued on August 30, prior consent is mandatory for CBI to carry out an investigation in Telangana. Though the government order was issued two months ago, it did not figure in the public domain last week, when the additional advocate general informed Telangana high court - during arguments on a BJP petition seeking CBI probe into the bribery scandal - that general consent had been withdrawn.
Under Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, general consent of a state government is necessary for CBI to operate in that state. Telangana home secretary Ravi Gupta stated in the order that “consent given on September 23, 2016, has been withdrawn to all members of Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. Henceforth, consent of Telangana government shall be required on a case-to-case basis for investigation of any offence or class of offences”.
Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao asked all states to retract general consent to CBI. He had then said the Centre was misusing investigating agencies to target political rivals. In November 2018, then Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu took back the state’s general consent to CBI.
