Over 6,900 corruption cases probed by CBI pending trials in courts, 361 for more than 20 years: CVC
New Delhi (PTI): Over 6,900 corruption cases probed by the CBI were pending trials in different courts, 361 for more than 20 years, according to the latest annual report of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
Besides, as many as 658 corruption cases were pending CBI investigation, 48 for more than five years.
Of the total of 6,903 cases under trial before courts, 1,379 were pending for less than three years, 875 for more than three years and up to five years and 2,188 for more than five years and up to ten years, as on December 31, 2023, the anti-corruption watchdog said.
As many as 2,100 cases were pending trial for more than ten years and up to twenty years, and 361 for more than 20 years, said the CVC's annual report 2023.
"It was noted that 6,903 number of cases were pending trials as on December 31, 2023. It is a matter of concern that 2,461 cases were pending for more than 10 years at the end of 2023," it said.
The CVC report said that 12,773 appeals/revision, filed by the CBI and by the accused, were pending in different high courts and the Supreme Court.
Of these, 501 were pending for more than 20 years, 1,138 for more than 15 years but less than 20 years, 2,558 for more than 10 years but less than 15 years, 3,850 for more than five years but less than 10 years, 2,172 for more than two years but less than five years and 2,554 for less than two years, said the report made public recently.
Giving details of the 658 cases pending investigation by the CBI, the report said 48 were pending probe for over five years, 74 for more than three years but less than five years, 75 for more than two years but less than three years, 175 for more than one year but less than two years and 286 for less than one year.
"It is expected of the CBI to complete investigation within one year of registration of case. Completion of investigation would imply filing of charge sheet in a court of law wherever warranted, after receipt of sanction from the competent authority, if required," it said.
Some delays have been observed in completion of investigation in certain cases, the report said.
The reasons for delay in completion of investigation includes "delay due to excessive work", "inadequate manpower", "delay in obtaining responses to Letters Rogatory (LRs)" and "delay in granting prosecution sanction by the competent authorities, etc.", among others.
It also cited "time consuming efforts required for scrutiny of voluminous records, especially in economic offences and bank fraud cases" and "time and efforts required to locate and examine witnesses available at remote locations", as the reasons for delay in completing the probe by the CBI.
As per the report, there were 1,610 vacant posts in the CBI, against its sanctioned strength of 7,295, as on December 31, 2023.
Of the vacancies, 1,040 are in the executive ranks, 84 law officers, 53 technical officers, 388 ministerial staff and 45 canteen staff, it said.
According to Section 26 of Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, read with Section 4C of Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 provides for a committee to recommend officers for appointment to the posts of the level of Superintendent of Police and above (except Director) and also recommend the extension or curtailment of the tenure of such officers in the Delhi Special Police Establishment after consulting the Director, CBI, the report said.
"The aforesaid selection committee made their recommendations to the central government in respect of various appointments, proposals for extension of tenure, etc.," it added.
The committee functions under the chairmanship of the Central Vigilance Commissioner with the Vigilance Commissioners, Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training as its members.
During 2023, 876 regular cases/ preliminary enquiries were registered by the CBI.
"198 traps were laid for detection of bribery cases during 2023 and 37 cases for possession of disproportionate assets were registered during the year," the report said.
Out of 876 cases, 91 cases were taken up on the orders of the Constitutional courts and 84 cases were initiated on references received from state governments/Union territories, it added.
During 2023, the CBI completed investigation in 873 cases -- 755 regular cases and 118 preliminary enquiries, the report said.
"At the end of year 2023, a total of 1,028 cases were pending, out of which 956 were regular cases, in addition to 72 preliminary enquiries. 510 regular cases were pending for more than one year and 58 preliminary enquiries were pending for more than three 3 months, at the end of 2023," it said.
The CVC said that CBI registered 552 corruption cases during 2023 involving 674 public servants (195 gazetted officers).
Giving details of trial and conviction (including non-Prevention of Corruption Act cases), it said the judgement was received in 636 court cases.
Of these, 411 resulted in conviction, 140 in acquittal, 24 resulting in discharge and 61 "disposed off for other reasons", the report said.
"During the year 2023, the conviction rate was 71.47 per cent against the rate of 74.59 per cent for the year 2022. At the end of the year 2023, 10,959 court cases were pending under trial in various courts," it said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
LIVE | Election Results of five states 2026
New Delhi: The countdown has begun for the counting of votes for the Assembly elections in five states that have captured the attention of people across the country.
The counting of votes for the Assembly constituencies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry will begin simultaneously at 8 am, and the fate of candidates in a total of 824 constituencies will be decided shortly.
The counting of postal ballots will take place first, followed by the counting of EVM votes in several rounds.
► In Kerala’s Kasaragod constituency, UDF candidate Kallatra Mahin Haji is leading by 4,177 votes over NDA candidate M. L. Ashwini
► ADMK leader in Tamil Nadu, followed by TVK, DMK takes third spot. PMK, CPI, Congress lead in one seat each
► In West Bengal, TMC is leading in 111 seats, while BJP is leading in 119 seats.
► Vijay’s TVK leading in over 80 seats in Tamil Nadu, emerges as single largest party in early trends
► In Assam, BJP is leading in 71 seats, while Congress is leading in 26 seats.
► Kerala: UDF leading in 21 seats, LDF second, leading in 11
► Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala faces a setback in Kerala’s Haripad constituency
► Thrissur: Congress’ Rajan J Pallan leading with 6,460 votes; CPI candidate Alankode Leelakrishnan second with 5113 votes
► Out of 294 seats in West Bengal, BJP is leading in 109, TMC in 89, Congress in 5, others in one seat.
► DMK candidate in Thiruchirapalli KN Nehru behind TVK's G Ramamoorthi by 292 votes
► The BJP has taken an early lead in West Bengal, while Mamata Banerjee faces tough competition
► TVK head Vijay leads in Perambur constituency
► M. K. Stalin is leading in Tamil Nadu’s Kolathur constituency.
► AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami is leading in Tamil Nadu’s Edappadi constituency
► In Puducherry, BJP is leading in 3 seats.
► In Assam, BJP is leading in 56 seats, while Congress is leading in 12 seats.
► Suvendhu Adhikari leads in both Bhabanipur and Nandigram
► West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee faces setback in Bhabanipur constituency
► Bhupen Borah, who recently left Congress and joined the BJP, is leading in Assam’s Bihpuria constituency
► Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma is leading in Jalukabari constituency
► BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is leading in West Bengal’s Nandigram constituencyFive-state elections: Postal vote counting begins
► TMC, BJP lead in one seat each in West Bengal
► In Tamil Nadu, DMK leads in 3 constituencies, while TVK leads in 1
► UDF leads in 5 seats in Kerala, BJP in 1, LDF in 1
► BJP leads in 2 seats, AIUDF in 1 in Assam
► AINRC leads in 1 constituency in Puducherry
► TMC leads in 5 seats in West Bengal; Mamata Banerjee’s party maintains initial lead
► Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin leads in Kolathur
► BJP takes early lead in Assam
► Congress-led UDF leads in Kerala
► Tamil Nadu, TVK chief Vijay leads in the Perambur constituency, lags in Tiruchirappalli South
► BJP leads in 10 seats in Assam
► LDF candidate V.P.P. Mustafa leads in the Thrikkaripur Assembly constituency
► Out of 294 seats in West Bengal, BJP is leading in 14 seats, TMC in 12 seats, Congress in 2 seats
► Out of 234 seats in Tamil Nadu, DMK is leading in 15 seats, AIADMK is leading in 5 seats, TVK is leading in 2 seats
► Out of 126 seats in Assam, BJP is leading in 31 seats, Congress in 4 seats, AIUDF in 2 seats.
► Out of 30 seats in Puducherry, NRC+ is leading in 3 seats, Congress in 2 seats, TVK in 1 seat.
► Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suffers a setback in theBerhampore constituency in West Bengal.
