LIVE UPDATE - Over 6,900 Corruption Cases Pending with CBI, 361 Stalled for More Than 20 Years: CVC Report - THE PUBLIC NEWS 24
Over 6,900 corruption cases probed by the CBI are awaiting trial in various courts, with 361 cases dragging on for over 20 years, according to the CVC's 2023 report. Additionally, 658 cases remain under investigation, highlighting concerns over delays due to excessive work, inadequate manpower, and lengthy procedures
TPN24 Desk 
The Public News 24 02.09.2024 - Senior Journalist Alok Shukla
The Central Vigilance Commission's (CVC) latest report has revealed a troubling backlog in corruption cases being handled by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). As of December 31, 2023, over 6,900 cases are under trial in various courts, with 361 of these cases lingering for more than 20 years. Additionally, 658 corruption cases are still under investigation by the CBI, including 48 that have remained unresolved for over five years.
The report indicates that out of the 6,903 cases currently under trial, 2,188 have been pending for over five years, with 2,100 cases stuck for more than a decade. This backlog has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness and efficiency of the judicial process in handling corruption cases.
Moreover, the CVC report highlights a critical shortage of staff within the CBI, which may be contributing to these delays. As of the end of 2023, there were 1,610 vacant positions in the CBI, against a sanctioned strength of 7,295. The vacancies span across various ranks, including 1,040 executive positions, 84 law officers, and 53 technical officers.
The report also sheds light on the reasons behind the delays in completing investigations. These include excessive workloads, inadequate manpower, delays in receiving responses to Letters Rogatory (LRs), and prolonged efforts required to scrutinize voluminous records, especially in complex economic offenses and bank fraud cases.
Despite these challenges, the CBI managed to complete investigations in 873 cases during 2023, which included 755 regular cases and 118 preliminary inquiries. However, the report underscores the need for timely completion of investigations, with a clear expectation for the CBI to conclude cases within one year of registration.
The CVC's findings serve as a stark reminder of the pressing need for reforms and resource allocation to address the growing backlog of corruption cases in the country. With thousands of cases still pending, the call for a more efficient judicial process and adequate staffing within the CBI has never been more urgent.
