In a significant move, the Congress-led

Siddaramaiah government

in Karnataka on Thursday withdrew its ‘open consent’ to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct investigations in the state.
According to Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, the CBI must obtain consent from the respective state governments to conduct investigations.

Karnataka law minister HK Patil said: “We are withdrawing open consent for CBI investigation in the state. We are expressing our concerns about the misuse of the CBI. In all the cases we have referred to the CBI, they have not filed charge sheets, leaving many cases pending. They have also refused to investigate several cases we have sent. There are numerous such instances. They are biased. That’s why we are taking the decision. It’s not because of the MUDA case. We have taken this decision to control them (CBI) from taking the wrong path.”
The decision comes days after the Karnataka high court ordered a probe into the Muda scam.

However, the Karnataka government’s decision will have no bearing in court-directed CBI investigation.
An order passed by the Karnataka cabinet stated that the Chief Secretary and other officials will not provide any information requested by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot without cabinet approval.