On Wednesday, the Maharashtra government had withdrawn the general consent to the CBI, fanning another political controversy.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) interferes with ongoing local cases, which is an abuse of the state’s rights, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said today, explaining why Maharashtra withdrew the general consent given to the Central agency.
“In the case of a national issue, CBI has the authority to investigate. We had to take this decision because of its interference in the matters of the state already being probed by our police,” Mr Raut told news agency ANI.
“Maharashtra and Maharashtra Police have their own rights as per the Constitution and if someone tries to abuse these rights, then the government has to take such decisions,” the Shiv Sena MP said.
Anil Deshmukh, the Home Minister of Maharashtra, also justified the state government’s move.
“There was talk of the CBI being misused. It is a professional and premier investigative organisation. The TRP case is being probed by Mumbai Police and a similar case has been registered in Uttar Pradesh. There may be a ploy to hand over the case to the CBI. The CBI should not be used for political purposes,” Mr Deshmukh told the media earlier today.
On Wednesday, the Maharashtra government had withdrawn the general consent to the CBI, fanning another political controversy.
The order by the state government, however, will not affect the ongoing elections. The CBI will have to take permission from the state on a case-to-case-basis in future, NDTV reported.
The move by Maharashtra came shortly after CBI was handed over the TRP scam case after an FIR was registered in Uttar Pradesh. Many thought it was a ploy by the centre to interrupt the Maharashtra Police’s investigation involving channels that are supportive of the government.
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