The CBI has rejected Uttarakhand Government's notification withdrawing permission for it to probe a sting operation against Chief Minister Harish Rawat. Official sources yesterday said, the investigating agency has decided to continue with its inquiry for which permission was given during President's rule in the State. Sources said, the fresh notification of the State government for withdrawal of consent to CBI for probing the case was examined by legal experts.<br/><br/>They said, the notification is not legally tenable and therefore, the CBI will continue with its Preliminary Enquiry (PE) in the case. The CBI had registered a PE on 29th of April to probe a video-graphed sting operation purportedly showing Harish Rawat offering bribes to rebel Congress MLAs to support him during a floor test in the Uttarakhand assembly.<br/><br/>After Harish Rawat won the floor test in the Assembly, the State Cabinet had withdrawn the notification recommending a CBI probe into a sting operation involving him. Instead, the state cabinet decided to constitute a Special Investigating Team to probe the case as it was a state subject.

The CBI has rejected Uttarakhand Government's notification withdrawing permission for it to probe a sting operation against Chief Minister Harish Rawat. Official sources yesterday said, the investigating agency has decided to continue with its inquiry for which permission was given during President's rule in the State. Sources said, the fresh notification of the State government for withdrawal of consent to CBI for probing the case was examined by legal experts.<br/><br/>They said, the notification is not legally tenable and therefore, the CBI will continue with its Preliminary Enquiry (PE) in the case. The CBI had registered a PE on 29th of April to probe a video-graphed sting operation purportedly showing Harish Rawat offering bribes to rebel Congress MLAs to support him during a floor test in the Uttarakhand assembly.<br/><br/>After Harish Rawat won the floor test in the Assembly, the State Cabinet had withdrawn the notification recommending a CBI probe into a sting operation involving him. Instead, the state cabinet decided to constitute a Special Investigating Team to probe the case as it was a state subject.

CBI today rejected Uttarakhand Government's notification withdrawing permission for it to probe a sting operation against Chief Minister Harish Rawat. Official sources said, the Investigating Agency has decided to continue with its inquiry for which permission was given during President's rule in the State. Sources said,the fresh notification of the Uttrakhand government for withdrawal of consent to CBI for probing the case was examined by legal experts. <br/><br/>They said, the notification is not legally tenable and therefore, the CBI will continue with its Preliminary Enquiry (PE) in the case. The CBI had registered a PE on 29th of April to probe a video-graphed sting operation purportedly showing Harish Rawat offering bribes to rebel Congress MLAs to support him during a floor test in the Uttarakhand assembly.<br/><br/>After Harish Rawat winning floor test in the Assembly, the State Cabinet had withdrawn the notification recommending a CBI probe into a sting operation involving him. Instead, the state cabinet decided to constitute a Special Investigating Team to probe the case as it was a state subject.