Maharashtra government withdraws general consent to CBI in probing cases

The decision implies that the CBI will need the state’s permission to enter its jurisdiction to carry out any investigation, effectively stripping the central agency of its powers to probe cases in Maharashtra.

At least three non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states - Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal - have already withdrawn their general consent to let the CBI investigate cases in their jurisdiction.

Officials said the Maharashtra government’s decision would not impact the CBI investigation into the Sushant Singh Rajput death case since this probe is being conducted on orders of the Supreme Court and not under provisions that require a state to give its consent.

The latest order issued by Maharashtra’s home department comes just a day after the Uttar Pradesh government registered a First Information Report (FIR) on one aspect of the Television Rating Points case and promptly handed over the case to the CBI.

The Mumbai Police probe initiated against Republic TV earlier this month has set up a fresh face-off between the Thackeray-led coalition and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA.

In this case, the Mumbai police had named Republic TV as one of three channels accused of trying to fudge its television ratings.

Republic TV’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami has denied the charges.

The scam had come to light when rating agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) complained that certain channels were rigging TRP numbers to lure advertisers.

Eight people have been arrested by Mumbai police in this case, two of them on Tuesday.