Archive · 21 Aug 2025
Panel Recommends Empowering CBI for Cybercrime Probes
A government committee wants the CBI, a federal police force, to be able to investigate cybercrimes anywhere in India without asking state governments first.
Right now, the CBI needs permission from each state.
Some states have stopped giving this permission, which slows down investigations.
The committee thinks this is a problem because it makes it harder to catch cybercriminals quickly.
One lawmaker disagrees, saying it's not fair to the states.
Parliamentary panel recommends amending the DSPE Act to allow CBI to probe cybercrimes without state consent.
The recommendation stems from concerns that state consent requirements hinder timely investigation and national responses.
CBI stated that eight states have withdrawn general consent for investigations, creating operational constraints.
The committee suggests the Ministry of Home Affairs consult with states that withheld consent.
IUML MP Haris Beeran criticized the proposal as a violation of cooperative federalism.
- Who
- Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs
- What
- Recommendation to amend the DSPE Act to allow CBI to probe cybercrime without state consent.
- When
- Recommendations were made in a report tabled Wednesday.
- Where
- India
- Why
- To facilitate timely cybercrime investigations and coordinated national responses, given state consent issues.
IUML MP Haris Beeran
Parliamentary Committee
Federalism
IUML MP Haris Beeran
Views the proposal as a violation of cooperative federalism.
Parliamentary Committee
Supports amending the DSPE Act to empower the CBI.
- Report Title
- Cyber Crime—Ramifications, Protection and Prevention
- Committee Head
- Radha Mohan Das Agrawal
- Main Recommendation
- Amend DSPE Act for CBI cybercrime probes
- Relevant Act
- Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (DSPE Act)
- CBI's Concern
- State consent hinders investigations
- Dissenting Voice
- Haris Beeran (IUML MP)
