CBI is not under 'Union control': Centre in Supreme Court

The central government informed the Supreme Court on Thursday that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is not under its direct "control," while responding to West Bengal's lawsuit challenging the agency's probe in several cases without the state's prior approval. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, clarified that the CBI operates independently and is not directly controlled by the Union of India.

“The Union of India has not registered any case, the CBI has. The agency is not under the control of the Union,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said to a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta.

West Bengal initiated an original suit against the Centre in the Supreme Court under Article 131 of the Constitution. The Trinamool government there stated in its suit that despite that the state revoking “general consent” to the federal agency to probe cases in West Bengal, the CBI has continued to file FIRs and proceed with investigations.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in power at the Centre, has been accused by the opposition of "misusing" central agencies, a claim consistently denied by the ruling party. The CBI has earlier too faced allegations of operating under political influence, regardless of the party in power. In 2013, the Supreme Court famously referred to the agency as a "caged parrot" amid allegations of political interference.