Budget 2016: Over 32 per cent increase in CBI budget

NEW DELHI: Country's premier probe agency CBI, which has been facing severe staff shortage, got a fillip with the allocation of about Rs 727.75 crore in the budget --nearly 32 per cent increase from Rs 550.08 crore-- the revised estimates of 2015-16.

The agency which is dealing with several financial crimes like Chit fund scam, Vyapam scam among others which are spread across states needed funds to effectively conduct its probe, sources said.

In the budget presented today by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the agency has been allocated Rs 727.75 crore for 2016-17 as compared to Rs 550.08 crore in the last fiscal which is an increase of Rs 177.67 crore.

The amount has been allocated for establishment-related expenditure of the CBI which is entrusted with investigation and prosecution of corruption cases against public servants, private persons, firms and other cases of serious crime, the budget document said.

It said the budget allocation also includes provisions for CBI e-governance, modernisation of training centre, establishment of technical and forensic support units, construction of office, residential complexes of CBI branches.

After rationalisation, CBI plan schemes have come under the Umbrella scheme, it said.