By Diksha-
The Kerala Government is considering withdrawal of general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for investigation like five other states ruled by the Opposition.
Kerala Law Minister A.K. Balan has pointed out that the CBI probe is being used to settle political scores now. It is interfering in matters where is does not even have the jurisdiction to do so.
He said, “We cannot question the powers of the central agency. At the same time, as per Section 6 of Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, CBI has to get the consent from respective states before registering a case. We want to retain that protection for state governments.”
The Maharashtra Government also withdrew its general consent last week.
It is being said that the consent withdrawal is being considered in the wake of the Life Mission project where the CBI took up the matter without informing the State government. The Life Mission is a state government entity in Kerala.
Legal experts are of the view that after the withdrawal of consent given under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, the CBI cannot file fresh FIRs, but the ongoing investigations will not be affected by it.
Earlier, the States of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan also withdrew their general consent.
The opposition parties in Kerala are alleging that the Kerala government is considering this withdrawal to save its own neck because its officials are involved in the Life Mission project controversy.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala commented, “Even a child can make out that huge corruption took place in the Life Mission project. The government is using all means to prevent a central agency probe which will help unravel kickbacks.”
The CBI started probe into the life mission project and filed an FIR under the Foreign Currency Regulation Act (FCRA), which was stayed by the Court.
The State Government urgently reached the High Court two weeks ago when the CBI probe into the project started and the HC put a stay on it for two months.