CBI lacks infrastructure to probe scams: Anil Sinha

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) needs to upgrade its capabilities to fix the shortcomings it faces while probing major scams, according to CBI director Anil Sinha.

Speaking on the occasion of CBI Day, the 52nd foundation day of the agency, here on Monday, Sinha flagged the lack of proper infrastructure, advanced technology and trained manpower as the agency’s weak points.

Sinha also raised the issues faced by officials during transfer and promotion owing to gaps in various government policies.

Expressing worry over the lack of infrastructure in forensic labs, Sinha said he had proposed to the Centre to set up “a state-of-the-art forensic science lab at CBI Academy Campus comprising all the 17 divisions including the emerging and futuristic forensic disciplines like chemical, biological, radiological (CBRN) forensics, disaster victim identification, etc.”

Terming the outdated forensic labs as a “major weakness” in the investigations, Sinha said only five or six per cent of the criminal investigations in the country take the aid of forensics.

“At present, not only is the number of forensic labs inadequate in the country but the existing labs lack the latest technological capacity to conduct advanced tests,” said the CBI director.

Sinha said the agency lacks in-house high-end technological tools along with certified professionals while investigating big cases such as 2G spectrum, coal block allocation and the Saradha scam.

In order to overcome these challenges, Sinha has proposed to establish a ‘centralised technology vertical’ to provide real-time support to investigations. He said two separate committees had been set up to review the existing transfer and recruitment policies as officials were facing problems during their transfer and promotion.

“I have conveyed to the committee that the new transfer policy must be based on full consultation so that the views of all ranks of the CBI are duly factored in while formulating the new transfer policy,” Sinha added.

He said even getting a government accommodation is difficult for the agency officials and a proposal has been sent to the Union government to help officials get general pool accommodation.

Sinha said the Centre has approved an agency proposal to train around 550 CBI investigators at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore ((IIM-B) and National Law School in Bengaluru. According to the plan, 60 investigators will be imparted training on advanced and high-tech financial crimes at IIM-B this year and 125 investigators and prosecutors will undergo advanced certified courses at the National Law School.

"Overall, it is proposed to train nearly 550 investigators and prosecutors in these eminent national institutions over the next three years which will go a long way in bringing new knowledge and skills to the organization," Sinha said.