Andhra govt fears what is likely to happen: Jaitley flays state for barring CBI

In Andhra Pradesh, the Minister said the decision to keep the CBI away was not motivated by any particular case but by the fear of "what is likely to happen".
Andhra govt fears what is likely to happen: Jaitley flays state for barring CBI
Andhra govt fears what is likely to happen: Jaitley flays state for barring CBI
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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday flayed the Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal governments for withdrawing "general consent" to the CBI for raids and investigations in their states saying scams cannot be wiped off by such a decision.

"We have a federal structure and under it the CBI was created initially for employees of the Central government and then to investigate very serious cases referred either by states or on court orders. Saradha and Naradha cannot be wiped off," he told a media conference.

Jaitley was apparently referring to the Sarada ponzi scam and the Narada sting operation involving cash bribes both of which allegedly involving senior Trinamool Congress leaders in West Bengal.

In Andhra Pradesh, the Minister said the decision to keep the CBI away was not motivated by any particular case but by the fear of "what is likely to happen".

On Friday, the two state governments had withdrawn the consent to the CBI, accusing the Centre of misusing the agency against the opposition parties.

In an unprecedented move, the Andhra Pradesh government barred the CBI from conducting raids or carrying out investigations in the state without its permission.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government issued the orders withdrawing 'general consent' to CBI officers to exercise jurisdiction in the state to investigate corruption charges against officials of central government and private persons.

The Principal Secretary (Home) in Andhra Pradesh, A.R. Anuradha, issued the orders dated November 8, exercising powers under Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946,

The state government on August 3 this year had issued orders giving its general consent to the CBI to exercise its powers and jurisdiction in the state. The same has now been revoked as per Section 6 of the DSPE Act.

It is under this Act that CBI exercises its jurisdiction in states. The state governments every year issue notifications to give a ‘general consent' to the investigating agency to probe corruption cases.

The latest move by the TDP government is seen as another flash-point between the state and the Centre after TDP pulled out of BJP-led NDA in March this year.

IANS inputs

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