The premier investigating agency, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has unveiled a roadmap to deal with ‘innovative and complex’ crime likely to take place with growth in the economy.

“As an inevitable corollary, the changes brought about by economic growth are also going to throw up new challenges for law enforcement agencies. For the CBI, crimes are likely to become more innovative, complex, driven increasingly by technology and transcending geographical boundaries,” CBI Director Anil Sinha in his opening remarks on the occasion of D P Kohli Memorial lecture here on Monday.

He highlighted the fact that India ranked 85th amongst 178 countries in the Corruption Perception Index. As per RBI data, the non performing assets (NPA or bad debts) rose to Rs 2.45 lakh crore in 2014 from around Rs 50,000 crore in 2007. Over Rs 80,000 crore of public money pertaining to roughly 6 crore citizens is locked up in Ponzi schemes being investigated by the agency.

Road map for future

In order to meet those challenges, he presented a road map for future which is expected to substantially upgrade investigation and prosecution capacity. “Over a period of three years, 555 CBI officers shall be trained in investigation of financial crimes and other new and emerging crimes in partnership with IIM, Bangalore and National Law School.” he said.

The agency has proposed to the Government to set up an International Centre of Excellence in Investigation at CBI Academy to train not only CBI and other State and Central officers but also officers from ASEAN and SAARC countries. The third aspect of roadmap is proposal for setting up a Centralised Technology Vertical. This will provide real-time support to investigation.

The agency has also proposed to the Home Ministry to set up first of its kind state-of-art Forensic Science Lab. This would include emerging and futuristic disciplines such as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear forensics besides Disaster Victim Identification. Arguing for this lab, Sinha said, “Presently only 5-6% of investigations make use of forensic tools and technologies. The range and quality of available forensic support does not meet the best international standards. The gap manifests in weak investigation and adversely impacts delivery of justice to the victims.”

Changing role

Using this opportunity to highlight the role of regulators and law enforcement agencies in an economically resurgent India, Sinha said that there is tendency amongst various stakeholders to place the regulators in an adversarial position with the policy makers and corporate sector. “We need to revisit the contours of this discourse and have the right public conversation which equally recognises the need for growth and the Constitutional obligation to secure justice for all,” he said.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW