The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday withdrew the general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), according to reports.
The reports came after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He is accused of being part of a 'cash for jobs' scam.
ANI reported that the order for the withdrawal of consent was issued by the Tamil Nadu Home Department.
The withdrawal of the general consent means that the CBI would now have to seek permission from the state government for starting any new investigation there. However, the CBI can continue to investigate the cases that began when the general consent was there.
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Amid allegations of the weaponisation of central investigative agencies like the CBI and ED, several Opposition-ruled states have withdrawn the general consent to the CBI.
"The other nine states which had withdrawn their general consent to the CBI to probe cases include Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana and West Bengal," notes India Today.
