'CBI is biased': K'taka withdraws general consent to probe cases

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: The Congress government in Karnataka on Thursday withdrew general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct investigations in the state, PTI reported. The state government had earlier granted the central agency permission to openly conduct criminal investigations in the state under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. The Central Bureau of Investigation would now require written consent from the state government to carry out inquiries. The decision to withdraw permission came a day after a special court ordered a Lokayukta police investigation against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority scam.

On Thursday, state Law Minister HK Patil said that the “notification granting general consent for CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation] to probe criminal cases in Karnataka state, under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, has been withdrawn”, according to PTI. Patil, who made the announcement after a meeting of the state Cabinet, expressed concern about the “misuse” of the central agency. “In all the cases we have referred to the CBI, they have not filed chargesheets, leaving many cases pending,” he said, ANI reported. Patil claimed that the central agency had also refused to investigate several cases sent by the state government. “They are biased,” he said. “That’s why we are taking the decision.” He said that permission would be granted to the Central Bureau of Investigation on a case-by-case basis.

The minister added the decision was not taken because of the Mysore Urban Development Authority case. “We have taken this decision to stop them [CBI] from taking the wrong path.” With Thursday’s decision, Karnataka joins other states, including the TMC-led West Bengal, the DMK-led Tamil Nadu and the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Kerala, that have revoked open consent for the central agency to conduct probes. Several Opposition parties have accused the ruling BJP of weaponising central agencies such as the CBI.