The Chandrababu Naidu government in Andhra Pradesh has given “general consent” to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to carry out searches and investigations in the state without prior permission from the state government, except in cases involving state government employees.
A notification was issued in the Official Gazette on Tuesday which stated that the state government has given its consent to extend the powers and jurisdiction of the Delhi Special Police Agency (DSPE) Act, 1946 to the entire state of Andhra Pradesh for investigations notified under Section 3 of the Act.
It agreed to investigate crimes allegedly committed by employees of the central government, central public sector enterprises and private citizens.
The notification said no such inquiry would be held in cases relating to public servants under the control of the Andhra Pradesh government except with the prior written permission of the state government.
“Previous consents for other offences and consents given separately for other offences by this declaration also remain valid,” the notice said.
Under the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, the state government regularly grants general consent to the CBI and all agencies for periods ranging from six months to a year.
In November 2018, the then TDP government led by Naidu had revoked the “general consent”, effectively restricting the powers of central agencies to investigate in the state.
The move came after Naidu accused the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre of trying to destabilise his administration using central agencies.
He had accused the BJP of conspiring with the then Leader of Opposition YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to use the CBI and the Income Tax department to topple his government.
Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party had quit the NDA in March 2018. The Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government that came to power in 2019 reversed Naidu’s decision and allowed the CBI to enter the state for investigation without prior permission.
Naidu has rekindled ties with the BJP ahead of the state assembly elections in May 2024. The TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance won a landslide victory in the state and came to power. The TDP is also a key partner of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
