Federal Fault Lines

A landmark ruling blurs federal policing lines, reviving debate on corruption oversight and the need for an independent ombudsman

- SHANTONU SEN

The architectural framework of Indian law enforcement is currently undergoing a shift.

Unlike the United States, where the distinction between federal and state crimes is hardcoded into the constitutional fabric, India has long navigated a more fluid middle ground. For decades, we operated without a formal concept of federal crimes; it was only with the birth of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2008 that a de jure federal police force emerged. However, the Supreme Court's declaration on January 20, 2026, has disrupted the longstanding status quo. By ruling that State Anti-Corruption Departments can investigate Central Government employees within their borders, the Court has effectively dismantled the de facto “federal” status of corruption cases involving Central staff, a domain previously reserved for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).