THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The CPM politburo endorsed the recommendation by party’s state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to direct the CPM-led LDF government to withdraw ‘general consent’ for probe given to CBI in Kerala. The politburo directed the Kerala unit of the party to discuss the suggestion in LDF and take a decision.
Kerala is among the states which still retains the ‘general consent’ given to CBI probes under the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946. The ‘general consent’ is a nod for the agency to probe scheduled offences specified in the DSPE Act. Even without this consent, the agency can probe serious crimes mentioned under specific acts like violation of FCRA norms.
CPM leaders found the demand topical in the backdrop of Maharashtra government withdrawing ‘general consent’. Sources said CBI’s bid to put the Kerala government in the dock by taking up a probe against Life Mission and its refusal to take up the Titanium case probe were reasons that underlined CPM’s suspicion.