Kerala Govt. Withdraws 'General Consent' Granted To CBI To Investigate Cases In The State [Read Order]

The Kerala Government has withdrawn the 'general consent' granted to the CBI [Delhi Special Police Establishment] to investigate cases in the state.

"In exercise of the powers conferred under section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment DSPE Act, 1946 (Central Act 25 of 1946), the Government of Kerala hereby revoke all previous notifications wherein general consent was granted to the members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment to exercise powers and jurisdiction under the said Act in the state for the investigation of the offences under section 3 of the said Act.

However such revocation will not affect the pending investigation of cases initiated based on the consent issued under section 6 of the said Act", states the Notification.

Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act provides that a member of the Delhi Special Police Establishment cannot exercise powers and jurisdiction under the Act in any area in a State without the consent of the Government of that State.

In 2017, the state had issued a notification giving permission for the CBI to probe any case involving violation of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. 

Recently, the Government had objected to the CBI investigation against the Chief Executive Officer of the LIFE Mission, which handles the Kerala Government's free home project for the homeless. The High Court of Kerala later stayed for two months the CBI investigation against the Chief Executive Officer.

 Last month, the Government of Maharashtra had withdrawn the 'general consent'. In July, this year, the Rajasthan Government had withdrawn its general consent accorded to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal governments had withdrawn their "general consent" in 2018 itself.