Karnataka govt revokes consent for CBI to probe cases in state amid MUDA ‘scam’ case

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the CBI’s consent has been revoked under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act.

Published on: Sep 26, 2024, 20:45:14 IST

By Yamini C S

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The Karnataka government has revoked the general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate cases in the state, citing the agency's alleged “bias”. The decision, announced on Thursday after a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, comes amid growing demands from the opposition BJP for a CBI investigation into the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment case.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah speaks to the media, in Bengaluru on Thursday. (ANI Photo) (ANI)

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil dismissed claims that the withdrawal was linked to the MUDA controversy, where allegations surfaced regarding the allotment of 14 sites to Siddaramaiah’s wife. Patil clarified that the CBI’s consent has been revoked under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, and any future investigations will require case-by-case approval, news agency PTI reported. He accused the CBI of operating with prejudice, leading to the government's decision.

Karnataka now joins other non-BJP-ruled states, including West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, in revoking general consent for CBI investigations.

The decision follows a Special Court order instructing the Lokayukta police to investigate Siddaramaiah in the MUDA case. The court order comes after the Karnataka High Court upheld the Governor’s sanction for an inquiry into the allegations.

Responding to BJP accusations of shielding the Chief Minister, Patil denied any connection between the withdrawal of CBI consent and the ongoing probe. He also emphasized concerns over the CBI's handling of past cases, including mining investigations where the agency allegedly failed to file chargesheets.

Siddaramaiah has since rejected the BJP’s claims of wrongdoing and accused the opposition of conspiring against him. He reaffirmed his intention to fight the case legally and stated he would not resign from the CM post.

(With PTI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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