Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is planning to withdraw the general consent given to probe agency Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). A decision on this is expected soon as it requires no special framing of law. Only a cabinet nod is required after which an order can be issued.

According to sources, the state government has received legal advice on that.

The government and CPM had alleged that the central government was using CBI for political revenge. The CPM state secretariat had asked that government to evaluate the feasibility of withdrawing the general consent to CBI in Kerala like five non-BJP ruled states in the country. This demand was supported by CPI.

In was in 2017, Kerala gave general consent to CBI for probing cases in the state on its own initiative. This can be withdrawn with another order. But CBI can’t be totally banned with the order. However, the probe agency will require separate permission from the state government to probe each case. If state is not interested in the probe it can deny permission. But the existing cases and those involving central government officials can be probed by CBI without any interference.

Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have already withdrawn the general consent to CBI. On the other hand, Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress ruled Maharashtra also issued a similar order the other day.

The CBI has been probing into the Life Mission housing project in Wadakkancherry in the wake of controversial gold smuggling case at Thiruvananthapuram airport. The state government has opposed the CBI probe in High Court. Also, an appeal has been filed by the government against allowing CBI to probe the Periya double murder case.

As the elections are round the corner, the actions initiated by CPM-ruled Kerala and NDA-ruled Centre remains to be seen.