STATE CAN’T MEDDLE WITH CBI CASES: LAWYER

The Andhra Pradesh government appeared to be on strong legal ground while taking the surprise decision to withdraw general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation to operate in the state.

The I-T department had not yet revealed what the agency had found in the premises of Telugu Desam MPs and leaders that it had raided.

The Andhra Pradesh government’s order triggered a debate among police officers and lawyers about its impact on the CBI registering cases and taking up the investigation in states which are not under the jurisdiction of the DSPE Act.

Mr T. Pradyumna Kumar Reddy, senior criminal lawyer at the High Court explained that the notification had nothing to do with the other Central enforcement agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Serious Fraud Investigation Office as they are not within the purview of the DSPE Act. They are governed by separate enactments.

Referring to the statement of AP home minister N. Chinnarajappa, Mr Reddy said the state government cannot have the power to meddle with CBI cases against the employees and officers of the Central government though they have located in Andhra Pradesh or in any state.

Mr Reddy said that in the cases booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the staff or officers of the Central investigating agencies, there was no need of seeking sanction from the state government.

It was for the Centre to look after such cases.

Mr S. Pradeep Kumar, criminal lawyer, said the CBI case against YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy with regard to illegal investments would go on and it had nothing do with the notification of the Andhra Pradesh government.