On Friday, Karnataka withdrew general consent for the CBI to conduct inquiries in the state. Law Minister H.K. Patil expressed concern over the CBI’s what he termed “biased” actions, which opposition leaders say are dictated by the ruling BJP to harass political adversaries, particularly in the election run-up. Patil promptly clarified that this decision had no connection with the land scam allegations in which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was accused.
“We are withdrawing open consent for CBI investigations in the state due to apprehensions about misusing the agency. They have a bias, and for that reason, we are doing this,”
Patil said this while briefing the reporters. He further said the cabinet stands with the Chief Minister and asks him to take the challenge.
Patil attacked the CBI for not filing chargesheets in cases referred to them and not pursuing investigations into other matters submitted by the state. “There are enough cases where they have refused to act,” he said, adding that “we need to control them from taking the wrong path.”
Karnataka has joined a growing list of opposition-ruled states, such as West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, which have withdrawn general consent for the CBI. That means the CBI would now have to seek written permissions from state governments before it starts an investigation, as is required under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act.
This move is a strong conflict between opposition states and the BJP-led central government, which has been accused of misusing agencies such as the CBI to weaken political opponents, especially during election times.
The central government, however, after doing so, argued that due to such moves by states, permission was required, which drastically curtailed powers of investigation by the CBI. A parliamentary panel has pitched for legislation that will allow the agency to function freely without state interference, with the necessary support in terms of safeguards for impartiality in its functioning.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is under police investigation for an alleged land scam involving Mysuru Urban Development Authority. This comes on a trial court order after the High Court rejected his plea against prosecution sanction from Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot. It is alleged that Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, was allotted several plots in an upmarket area in Mysuru as compensation for her land being taken away for infrastructure works, caused losses of over ₹4,000 crore to the exchequer.
The BJP and its ally, Janata Dal (Secular), hope these developments will nail the Congress coffin and have increased their demand for the Chief Minister’s resignation on moral grounds. Siddaramaiah refused to resign, keeping his head high and having a clean slate throughout his entire political life spanning over four decades, saying his political career would come out unscathed.
While the Chief Minister has the support of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and other cabinet members like IT Minister Priyank Kharge, voices of dissent within the Congress party, including former Assembly Speaker K.B. Koliwad, are also growing louder in support of his resignation.
