The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has raised alarm over a staggering backlog of 7,072 corruption cases probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) awaiting trial in various courts as of December 31, 2024, with 379 cases languishing for over two decades, according to its latest annual report. This mounting pendency, described as a “matter of concern” by the anti-corruption watchdog, highlights systemic delays in India’s judicial and investigative processes, undermining efforts to combat graft effectively.
The report details that of the 7,072 cases, 1,506 have been pending for less than three years, 791 for three to five years, 2,115 for five to ten years, and 2,281 for ten to twenty years. The 379 cases pending for over 20 years underscore the chronic delays plaguing the judicial system. Additionally, 13,100 appeals and revisions filed by the CBI and accused parties are stuck in high courts and the Supreme Court, with 606 pending for over 20 years, further clogging the legal pipeline.
In 2024, the CBI registered 807 cases, including 674 regular cases and 133 preliminary enquiries, with 502 cases involving 859 public servants (221 gazetted officers) under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The agency laid 222 traps to detect bribery and registered 43 cases for disproportionate assets. Despite completing investigations in 1,005 cases (856 regular cases and 149 preliminary enquiries), 832 cases remained pending by year-end, including 776 regular cases and 56 preliminary enquiries. Of these, 529 corruption cases were still under investigation, with 56 pending for over five years, defying the CVC’s expectation of concluding probes within one year.
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The CVC attributes these delays to multiple factors, including excessive workloads, inadequate manpower (with 1,610 vacant posts in the CBI as of December 31, 2024), delays in obtaining responses to Letters Rogatory, and slow prosecution sanctions from competent authorities. The scrutiny of voluminous records in economic offences and bank fraud cases, coupled with challenges in locating witnesses in remote areas, further hampers progress. Court-related delays, such as limited hearings, non-availability of witnesses, and dilatory tactics by the accused, exacerbate the backlog.
The report also notes a dip in the CBI’s conviction rate, which fell to 69.14% in 2024 from 71.47% in 2023. Of the 644 judgments secured in 2024, 392 resulted in convictions, 154 in acquittals, 21 in discharges, and 77 were disposed of for other reasons. At year-end, 11,384 court cases, including non-corruption cases, remained pending, reflecting the broader challenge of judicial efficiency.
The CVC, which oversees CBI investigations under the Prevention of Corruption Act, has repeatedly flagged these delays as a barrier to effective anti-corruption measures. The commission emphasized that prolonged pendency undermines justice and erodes public trust in the system. To address this, the CVC has called for expedited action from relevant authorities and highlighted the need for systemic reforms, including filling CBI vacancies (1,040 in executive ranks, 84 law officers, and 388 ministerial staff) and streamlining judicial processes.
As India strives to strengthen its anti-corruption framework, the backlog of cases, particularly those pending for over a decade, raises questions about the efficacy of current mechanisms. With the CBI handling high-profile cases like the recent ₹225 crore Air India software procurement scam, the pressure is on to clear the backlog and restore confidence in the fight against graft. The CVC’s findings underscore the urgent need for judicial and administrative reforms to ensure timely justice and bolster India’s anti-corruption efforts.
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