States that withdrew general consent to CBI must rethink decision: MoS Jitendra Singh

Singh was speaking at the Investiture Ceremony of the agency where he presented police medals for meritorious service to 47 CBI officials.

“He emphasised that these state governments have to come clear and state whether they trust the CBI or not, or whether they trust the CBI selectively as they continue to give selective consent in cases which suit them,” the CBI statement said.

As many as eight states, mostly ruled by Opposition parties, have withdrawn consent to the CBI in the past few years alleging the agency is being used by the government to target opposition party leaders.

According to the CBI, the minister called upon these state governments to rethink on the decision of withdrawal of general consent to the CBI to investigate cases.

“The minister reminded that many cases are also referred to CBI by the states under public pressure which indicates that people have greater trust in CBI. Similarly, complex and urgent cases are also assigned to CBI by the judiciary on many occasions, he added,” the CBI statement said.

CBI Director Subodh Jaiswal spelt out “Vision 75” for the agency stating that it had initiated a comprehensive internal process of modernization, upgradation of capacities, setting higher benchmarks for investigation and preventive vigilance and for leveraging cutting edge capabilities to combat new age crime, the CBI statement said.

He said the CBI has identified 75 practices, which need to be discouraged so as to enhance efficiency of the organisation.

“There is a growing emphasis worldwide not only on prosecuting offenders but also on recovering the proceeds of crime. This requires acquisition of new capabilities by law enforcement agencies and also reviewing the existing Standard Operating Procedures. We have taken note that the problems of today cannot be solved by using the skills and knowledge of yesterday,” the CBI quoted him as having said.

In the backdrop of the controversy over government extending tenures of CBI and ED directors up to five years, Singh said the Narendra Modi government was committed to uphold, preserve and strengthen the independence and autonomy of CBI and all such other investigating institutions.

“He said the commitment of the present government is to bring in more transparency, more citizen centricity and more accountability in governance and is indicated by its decisive initiatives to operationalize the institution of the Lokpal in the country to check corruption at high places,” the CBI statement said.