CBI Rejects Uttarakhand Notification to Probe Sting Operation

The sting purportedly shows Rawat offering bribes to rebel Congress lawmakers to support him during the floor test.

Ousted Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat greeting supporters after taking the floor test in Dehradun on 10 May 2016. (Photo: IANS)

• CBI on Wednesday rejected Uttarakhand Government’s notification withdrawing permission for it to probe a sting operation against Chief Minister Harish Rawat.
  
  
• The notification is not legally tenable and hence the CBI will continue with its Preliminary Enquiry (PE) in the case, the sources said citing the legal opinion.
  
  
• The CBI had registered a PE on 29 April to probe a video-graphed “sting operation” purportedly showing Rawat offering bribes to rebel Congress lawmakers to support him during the floor test in the Uttarakhand assembly.
  
  
• The agency had summoned Rawat for examination for 9 May but he had sought more time after which he won the floor test and returned to power.
  

(With inputs from PTI)