Its Maharashtra vs CBI after state government's new 'approval' policy

Mumbai : Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray has removed general consent to CBI to investigate cases in the state; with this the Central Bureau of Investigation agency will have to take a permission from state government before proceeding in any case.

At least three non-BJP-ruled states - Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal - have already withdrawn its general consent to let the CBI investigate cases in their jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, the officials have confirmed that with the new move there will be no hindrance in the investigations by CBI in Sushant Singh Rajput suicide case as the agency is doing that on the orders from Supreme Court.

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

The Maharashtra government noted the move as propaganda to allow CBI to wade into the ongoing probe by Mumbai police against Republic TV.

Leaders of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra had called the CBI registering the case in the TRP scandal as an attempt to “dilute” the case against Republic TV.

Mumbai Police had initiated probe against Republic Media earlier this month after it was found that the channel is allegedly manipulating TRPs to gain monetary benefits from the advertisers. Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami has denied the charges.