NEW DELHI: Perturbed at the growing incidence of corruption within its ranks, the Central Bureau of Investigation is strengthening its internal vigilance mechanism. The CBI on Thursday registered a case against one of its Deputy Legal Advisers who was allegedly taking Rs. 4 lakh from a suspect.

The DLA, posted in the agency's anti-corruption branch in Delhi, was allegedly taking the bribe from a suspect in a Preliminary Enquiry registered against some officials of Indraprastha Gas Limited. The CBI registered a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against the DLA.

The CBI last month registered a case under Section 120-B (conspiracy) and Sections 8 and 14 of the Prevention of Corruption Act against another DLA with the anti-corruption branch, Mumbai, who was allegedly indulging in unethical practices.

Two more cases were registered against two CBI Inspectors probing the multi-crore Cooperative Group Housing Societies scam cases in Delhi. They were allegedly taking bribes for themselves and others for showing favours to the accused. Certain middlemen and touts acting in collusion with these Inspectors were arrested.

Serious problem

"This is a serious problem. We have stepped up the process to clean our own backyard. We are weeding out officers of doubtful integrity, questionable conduct and those who indulge in corrupt and unethical practices," CBI Director Vijay Shanker told The Hindu on Friday.

He told the supervisory officers that hard working and honest personnel should not be made to feel de-motivated. He also cautioned against being misled by false and motivated complaints by vested parties against honest and conscientious officers.

The CBI is coping with an acute shortage of staff. It needs about 1,050 officers of different ranks to fill up all the vacancies. Senior officials admit that police officers from the States and other police organisations are reluctant to take up deputations in the CBI for lack of incentives.

Mr. Vijay Shanker expressed concern over the increasing acquittals and discharge of the accused and long-drawn trial proceedings.

"The mediocre legal advice, consenting to routine adjournments and taking long dates in the court as well as submission of cryptic court diaries are indications of a malaise setting in," he said.

Future changes

In a bid to implement in a stipulated time-frame a comprehensive management and support system to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability, the CBI has called for expression of interest from any registered company or a consortium to suggest building capacities for changes in future, especially in new areas of crime. While speeding up the CBI's modernisation and computerisation programme, the project also aims at re-engineering of investigation and monitoring process.

Expectations of civil society, judiciary, political parties and Parliament have also skewed the CBI's priorities. It has seen its conviction rate slipping to 65.6 per cent last year as compared to 70 per cent in 2001, which was probably one of the most impressive conviction rates among all investigation agencies in the world.

The number of cases registered by the CBI went up from 1,193 in 2004 to 1,267 in 2005. On the brighter side, the agency was able to bring down the two-year-old cases from 158 in 2004 to 136 last year. However, the number of cases under trial went up from 6,614 in 2004 to 6,907 last year.

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