CBI expects deluge of cases, to seek more manpower

NEW DELHI: Central Bureau of Investigation director Ranjit Sinha welcomed the passage of the Lokpal Bill by Parliament, telling ET that the agency was happy with the “positive development” and called it a step toward autonomy. Sinha is looking for more staff to handle cases referred to it by the Lokpal.

CBI could be the Lokpal’s main investigating arm. It won’t need prior sanction from the government in Lokpal-referred cases to open investigations against officials of joint secretary rank and above or against any official at the prosecution stage.

After getting the comments of the government and the concerned official, a three-member bench of the Lokpal will be the authority in cases referred by the watchdog that will grant CBI sanction at both stages – investigation and prosecution -- instead of the government.




“Already, the apex court has removed the need for seeking sanction at the stage of investigation in court-monitored cases,” Sinha said. “These developments are a step towards CBI’s autonomy. CBI has always argued that seeking sanction from government at stage of investigation is a highly discriminatory point.”

CBI will ask the government for more staff to handle the expected increase in its work load. At about 5,800 people, CBI is currently short of more than 800 staff.

“We are expecting a deluge of cases from the Lokpal,” a top CBI official said, requesting anonymity. “Unlike in the cases referred by the state governments where we at times refuse to take up the case citing a staff crunch, there is no provision for CBI to reject taking up Lokpal-referred cases. With limited manpower, CBI’s resources will be stretched.”

Another senior CBI official said the agency was pleased that the government’s key role in appointing the director has been done away with by the Lokpal Bill. A collegium comprising the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition and the chief justice of India will appoint the next CBI director.

This official, however, said the Lokpal will be “yet another master” for the CBI.

The government through the department of personnel and training (DoPT) and the home ministry already exercises considerable control over the CBI. DoPT has refused to cede administrative control of its bureaucrats over CBI in the Supreme Court where the autonomy debate is still on. The home ministry still controls the deputation of IPS officers to the agency.