Bengal govt grants CBI sanction to initiate probe against corrupt state officials

The Suvendu Adhikari-led West Bengal government on Wednesday granted sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to initiate a probe against state government officials facing corruption charges.

The decision was announced by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari during a press conference at Nabanna where he also asserted the BJP government’s “zero tolerance” policy towards corruption.

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“The previous government had blocked four CBI cases for the last four years. Under the law, the CBI or an investigating agency requires sanction from the state government to file charge sheets, prosecutions, or initiate action against government officials accused of corruption,” Adhikari said.

He alleged that the previous TMC government had “deliberately withheld those permissions to shield corrupt bureaucrats and officials”.

“We have now granted the necessary sanction to the CBI against officials linked to corruption in three departments. Copies of the approval have already been sent to the agency,” the chief minister added.

Following this, the central probe agency will no longer need the state government’s permission to initiate a probe against any state government officer involved in corruption.

According to the chief minister, the approvals relate to the cases of alleged irregularities in the teacher recruitment, municipal affairs department recruitment and other investigations linked to the cooperative department that are being monitored by courts.

The previous Trinamool Congress-led state government withdrew the “standing clearance” to the CBI for initiating suo motu probes in graft cases, alleging misuse of the probe agency by the Centre.