Sanction requirement for prosecution: prior government or magistrate consent needed before cognizance of specified state-related offences.

Courts cannot take cognizance of specified offences against the State, attendant abetment, or criminal conspiracies thereto without prior written sanction from the Central Government or State Government; for certain offences the District Magistrate may also grant sanction. For lesser conspiracies, written consent of the State Government or District Magistrate is required unless excluded by another provision. Before granting sanction or consent, those authorities may order a preliminary police investigation by an officer of at least Inspector rank with the statute's investigatory powers.

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