Raipur
The BJP government in Chhattisgarh has introduced new guidelines that define the scope of operations for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the state. Under these guidelines, the CBI is authorized to investigate actions involving the central government and central public sector undertakings. However, before investigating any employees working under the state government, the CBI must first obtain permission from the state authorities.
Currently, the CBI is looking into the PSC scam in Chhattisgarh, which includes allegations against officials who improperly secured jobs in the state service. This investigation was a key electoral promise made by the BJP government. Moving forward, the CBI will need to seek government approval before proceeding with any cases involving state service officials.
The Home Department has released a gazette notification outlining these limitations. According to Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, the government has agreed to extend the powers and jurisdiction of the CBI to investigate specific crimes allegedly committed by employees of the central government, public sector enterprises, and private individuals, whether acting independently or in collaboration.
However, investigations involving public servants governed by the Chhattisgarh state government cannot proceed without prior written consent from the state government. Approval for investigations into other crimes will still be granted on a case-by-case basis.
Background on CBI Operations in Chhattisgarh
The previous government led by Bhupesh Baghel withdrew general consent for the CBI in 2019, following the Congress party’s victory in the 2018 state assembly elections. This decision imposed a ban on CBI investigations in the state, meaning the agency could not operate without government permission.
While the Vishnudeo Sai government has lifted this ban, it has established new limitations on the CBI’s operations. At the time of the ban, Chief Minister Baghel expressed concerns about the CBI’s credibility under the NDA government and alleged that state officials were being harassed.
Chhattisgarh had initially allowed the CBI to conduct investigations in 2001, and from then until 2018, the agency handled several significant cases, including the murders of Ramavatar Jaggi and journalist Sushil Pathak, the murder of Umesh Rajput in Chhura, the SECL coal scam, the IAS B.L. Agrawal bribery case, the Bhilai manganese scandal, and the alleged CD scandal.
In March 2024, the Sai government officially lifted the ban on CBI operations in Chhattisgarh. The Home Department confirmed this decision through a notification, rescinding previous orders and allowing the CBI to conduct investigations without the earlier restrictions. This included retracting a departmental letter sent to the central government on January 10, 2019, by the previous Chief Minister Baghel’s administration regarding CBI operations in the state.
