New Delhi: Over 6,900 corruption instances probed by the CBI had been pending trials in numerous courts, 361 for greater than 20 years, in response to the newest annual report of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). Besides, as many as 658 corruption instances had been pending CBI investigation, 48 for greater than 5 years.

Of the overall of 6,903 instances underneath trial earlier than courts, 1,379 had been pending for lower than three years, 875 for greater than three years and as much as 5 years and a couple of,188 for greater than 5 years and as much as ten years, as on December 31, 2023, the anti-corruption watchdog stated.

As many as 2,100 instances had been pending trial for greater than ten years and as much as twenty years, and 361 for greater than 20 years, stated 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 stated.

The CVC report stated that 12,773 appeals/revision, filed by the CBI and by the accused, had been pending in numerous excessive courts and the Supreme Court. Of these, 501 had been pending for greater than 20 years, 1,138 for greater than 15 years however lower than 20 years, 2,558 for greater than 10 years however lower than 15 years, 3,850 for greater than 5 years however lower than 10 years, 2,172 for greater than two years however lower than 5 years and a couple of,554 for lower than two years, stated the report made public just lately.

Giving particulars of the 658 instances pending investigation by the CBI, the report stated 48 had been pending probe for over 5 years, 74 for greater than three years however lower than 5 years, 75 for greater than two years however lower than three years, 175 for multiple yr however lower than two years and 286 for lower than one yr.

“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 stated. Some delays have been noticed in completion of investigation in sure instances, the report stated.

The causes for delay in completion of investigation contains “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.”, amongst others.

It additionally 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 explanations for delay in finishing the probe by the CBI.

As per the report, there have been 1,610 vacant posts within the CBI, towards its sanctioned energy of seven,295, as on December 31, 2023. Of the vacancies, 1,040 are within the govt ranks, 84 legislation officers, 53 technical officers, 388 ministerial employees and 45 canteen employees, it stated.

According to Section 26 of Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, learn with Section 4C of Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 gives for a committee to suggest officers for appointment to the posts of the extent of Superintendent of Police and above (besides Director) and in addition suggest the extension or curtailment of the tenure of such officers within the Delhi Special Police Establishment after consulting the Director, CBI, the report stated.

“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 capabilities underneath 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 common instances/ preliminary enquiries had been 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 stated.

Out of 876 instances, 91 instances had been taken up on the orders of the Constitutional courts and 84 instances had been initiated on references obtained from state governments/Union territories, it added.

During 2023, the CBI accomplished investigation in 873 instances — 755 common instances and 118 preliminary enquiries, the report stated. “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 stated.

The CVC stated that CBI registered 552 corruption instances throughout 2023 involving 674 public servants (195 gazetted officers). Giving particulars of trial and conviction (together with non-Prevention of Corruption Act instances), it stated the judgement was obtained in 636 court docket instances. Of these, 411 resulted in conviction, 140 in acquittal, 24 leading to discharge and 61 “disposed off for other reasons”, the report stated.

“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 stated.