Lagatar24 Desk
Bengaluru: In a significant decision, the Congress-led Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka has withdrawn the general/open consent granted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct investigations in the state, citing concerns over bias and misuse of the agency. This move comes shortly after the Karnataka High Court ordered a probe into the MUDA scam.
As per Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, the CBI requires consent from state governments to investigate cases within their jurisdiction.
Law Minister HK Patil addressed the media, stating, “We are withdrawing open consent for CBI investigations due to our concerns about its misuse. Many cases we referred to the CBI have not seen charge sheets, and several cases were rejected for investigation. The CBI is biased, and that’s why we are taking this step.”
Patil clarified that the decision was not directly related to the MUDA scam but was instead aimed at preventing potential misuse of the agency. “From now on, we will consider allowing CBI investigations on a case-by-case basis,” he added. The Karnataka government’s decision will not impact CBI probes ordered by courts.
Tightening Communication with Governor
In another important move, the Karnataka cabinet issued a directive restricting communication between state officials and the Governor, Thaawarchand Gehlot, without prior approval from the cabinet. The law minister emphasized that information or explanations requested by the Governor must first be approved by the cabinet before being sent by the Chief Secretary.
Patil also accused the BJP of abusing the office of the Governor for political purposes. He reaffirmed that the MUDA case is being investigated by the Lokayukta as suggested by the High Court, making the CBI irrelevant in this matter.
