Supreme Court Rules: State Police Can Probe Central Govt Employees for Corruption Without CBI Nod
Top court upholds state powers under Prevention of Corruption Act
In a significant ruling on corruption investigations, the Supreme Court has clarified that state police forces are fully empowered to probe and register cases of bribery and corruption against central government employees under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act), without needing prior approval or consent from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The verdict removes a long-standing procedural ambiguity and strengthens state-level anti-corruption enforcement.
A two-judge bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Satish Chandra Sharma delivered the judgment while dismissing a special leave petition filed by Nawal Kishore Meena. The apex court upheld the Rajasthan High Court’s October 3, 2025, decision, which had rejected similar contentions challenging state police jurisdiction.
The bench emphasised that Section 17 of the PC Act does not bar or restrict state police or any designated state anti-corruption agency from initiating investigations into offences of bribery, corruption, or misconduct committed by central government servants. “No prior permission from the CBI is required before the state police register a case against a central government employee,” the court explicitly stated.
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This ruling assumes particular importance in cases where central employees are posted in states and alleged corruption occurs locally, allowing faster and more localised action by state authorities. It aligns with the federal structure of policing while preserving the CBI’s role in major or inter-state corruption matters.
The decision is expected to streamline anti-corruption probes across jurisdictions and reduce delays caused by jurisdictional disputes. Legal experts view it as a pragmatic step toward effective enforcement of the PC Act without diluting central oversight where necessary.
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