(a) Whether the Government have specified any time-limit for completion of investigation of the pending cases with CBI;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the steps being taken to ensure investigation within a reasonable time frame?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION, MINISTRY OF PLANNING, DEPARTMENT OF SPACE, DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY AND MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI S.B.MOOKHERJEE)
(a) to (f) No such study has been conducted recently. However, the Staff Inspection Unit, Ministry of Finance
conducted a study on manpower requirement of the CBI in1997 and submitted their report on 12.10.1998. Accordingly,
synthesized norms for staff strength in investigation and prosecution posts were laid down. The terms of reference
of this study did not cover analysis of trap cases. However, as reported by the CBI, out of 375 trap cases, whose trial
was completed in 2001 and 2002, 228 cases ended in conviction while 134 cases ended in acquittal. The reasons for
acquittal in trap cases are (a) long time taken in conclusion of trial (i) making it difficult to continue the same
set of Investigating and Prosecuting Officers, (ii) affecting the memory of the witnesses and quality of evidence
stored in voice/wash samples; and (b) some of the complainants, who had filed written complaints and initiated the
process, turning hostile.
fOr reducing delays in trial, a Directorate of Prosecution has been set up in the CBI to effectively conduct
and supervise the prosecutions. In the last financial year, plan assistance has been provided to the CBI for a training
scheme for improving the quality and storage of evidence collected, including in trap cases.