Archive · 21 Jan 2026
SC Rules State Police Can Probe Central Staff Corruption
The Supreme Court of India has said that state police can investigate and file chargesheets against central government employees for corruption.
This is under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The court said that state police do not need permission from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to do this.
The court also explained that while the CBI usually handles corruption cases against central government employees, state police can also do so.
This ruling came while the court was supporting a decision made by the Rajasthan High Court in a similar case.
The court said that the high court was correct in saying that it is not only the CBI that can start a prosecution in such cases.
Supreme Court rules state police can investigate and file chargesheets against central government employees for corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
No prior permission from the CBI is required for state police to register a case against central government employees.
Section 17 of the PC Act allows state or central agencies to investigate corruption cases, with the police officer being of a particular rank.
The apex court's order upheld a Rajasthan High Court decision that allowed the Rajasthan ACB to register a criminal case against a central government employee.
The court clarified that while the CBI usually handles such cases, state police can also investigate to avoid duplication of work.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India
- What
- Ruling that state police can investigate and file chargesheets against central government employees for corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act
- When
- Monday (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- India (specific location not mentioned)
- Why
- To clarify the jurisdiction of state police in corruption cases involving central government employees
- Act
- Prevention of Corruption Act
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Bench
- Justices J B Pardiwala and Satish Chandra Sharma
- Section
- Section 17 of the PC Act
- Case Context
- Rajasthan High Court order on a central government employee's corruption case