Highlights:
- Maharashtra government withdraws its consent to CBI to investigate cases
- Maha govt has made it necessary for the CBI to get permission for CBI on every case it wants to investigate in the state
- The moves come hours after CBI files a case where it looks to investigate the ratings scam
On Wednesday the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Government decided to withdraw its general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct the investigations in the state, which could lead to yet another face-off between the Maharashtra government and the BJP-rules Central government.
With this decision, the Maharashtra government has made it necessary for the central investigation agency to get the state government’s permission before it goes on to conduct any investigations in the state. Earlier, several opposition-ruled states including Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and more recently, Rajasthan, had withdrawn their general consent, effectively shutting the gates to the CBI.
The decision of withdrawing the consent from the Maharashtra government came in just hours after the CBI filed a case to investigate the ratings scam based on a complaint filed in Bhartiya Janata Party-ruled Uttar Pradesh.
The Mumbai police, which has accused three channels, including Republic TV, of rigging ratings, is currently investigating the case. However, Arnab Goswami-led Republic TV has denied any wrongdoing.
“Speculation is that this could very well become the second instance of an investigation making its way from the Mumbai Police to the CBI via a BJP or NDA-ruled state like in the Sushant Singh Rajput case,” a report said.
Two months ago an FIR was filed in Bihar related to the Sushant Sigh Rajput death case and the Supreme Court of India ordered the CBI to take over the investigation from the Mumbai police and directed the Maharashtra Government and the Police department to aid CBI in any way needed.
The handing over of the case to the CBI in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case led to a huge row between Maharashtra’s ruling alliance and the BJP which is in power in the Center and also rules Bihar in alliance with Nitish Kumar.
The Supreme Court order ensures that the state government’s move will not affect the agency’s investigations in that case.
The Mumbai police had been targeted by a section on how it had handled the case amid some speculation that the 34-year-old actor who was found dead in his Mumbai apartment in June could have been murdered.
A report said, “Republic TV, which has been vocal in its criticism of the Mumbai police, has accused it of carrying out a vendetta through the ratings case. The channel has demanded a CBI investigation into the Mumbai Police allegations that it had rigged television ratings for profit.”
On Saturday, following a complaint by “Golden Rabbit Communications”, the Lucknow Police registered a case and the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh recommended an investigation by the CBI. Within 24 hours, the Central Government responded to the proposal and gave it a green flag.
