Over 2,400 top officials allegedly involved in corruption: CBI

Over 2,400 gazetted-rank officers are suspected to be involved in corruption, CBI has said.

It said the agency takes six months to complete probe in small cases, which may even go up to one year. In a few complex cases, the probe may take more than a year's time to complete.

The submission was made by CBI Director Anil Sinha before the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice.

"On the query relating to officers of gazetted rank of the government of India and public sector undertakings suspected to be indulging in corruption vis-a-vis the time taken to complete investigation, the Director said that 2,411 such officers have been identified which is an increase of 87% over the last year," the panel said in its report tabled on Wednesday in Parliament.

As regards the time taken for investigation, it ranges from six months in small cases to a year in bigger cases, Sinha said.

"There are also some very complex cases which may necessitate the investigation to go beyond a year. Since the prosecution in the court depends on the evidence presented, there is no scope to unduly hasten the process which could adversely affect the investigation," the panel said in the report on 'Demands for Grants (2016-17) of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions'.

In response to the query on the pendency of cases, the Committee was informed that as on February 29, 2016, CBI has a total of 1,200 cases pending under investigation.

"Out of these, 31 cases are pending for more than three years. During the interaction of the Committee with the Director, CBI, a member also pointed out that 62 foreign investigations were pending with the premier investigating agency," the report said.