Punjab withdraws consent to CBI

Chandigarh, Nov 09: The Punjab government has withdrawn the general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation for investigating cases in the State.

In a notification issued on Sunday, the Amarinder Singh government said it was withdrawing general consent and "prior consent of the Government of Punjab" would be required in the future, on a "case-to-case basis" for any future investigation.

"...the Government of Punjab hereby withdraws the general consent accorded to the members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment, anytime herein before. In view of revocation of all previous general consents issued earlier, prior consent of the Government of Punjab shall be required, hereinafter, on a case-to-case basis for investigation of any offence or class of offences..." the notification said.

Earlier, states such as Jharkhand, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have also taken back the general consent accorded to the agency to exercise its powers under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.

Under Section 6 of the Act, all states except Delhi and the union territories have the discretion to give their consent to the CBI for a probe in the state.