Kerala cabinet decided to revoke general consent for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the state. From now on, the probe agency will have to seek prior permission from the Kerala government for registering a case within the state.
Kerala now joins the list of non-BJP-ruled states West Bengal, Rajasthan and Maharashtra in taking this decision.
Previously, Maharashtra government on Wednesday issued an order withdrawing consent accorded to the members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment to exercise the powers and jurisdiction under an act in the state.
"Investigative agencies don't have the right to interfere in govt projects"
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on November 2 said that various central investigating agencies probing into the gold smuggling case are exceeding their jurisdiction in a concerted effort to malign and destabilise the constitutionally elected government in the state.
"Investigation is what an agency should do privately. People from outside the agency are announcing through media about how the agencies will work, what they will do next. The agency works the next day exactly how these people announce beforehand. Selective leakage of statements is happening based on agenda," Vijayan said, adding that investigation should not be based on prejudice and a professional investigation should be conducted with an open mind.
"Investigative agencies don't have the right to interfere in government projects while they are being implemented. As part of the constitution, there is CAG to look into the income and expenses of the government. If the investigation agencies look into the state government projects while they are implemented, they are interfering with the project and it affects the common man. The CAG is there to look into this," he said.
