The CVC 2024 report reveals over 7,000 CBI corruption cases pending in courts, with 379 cases stuck for more than 20 years, highlighting alarming delays in India’s justice system.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: The latest Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) annual report has highlighted a trend in the backlog of corruption cases in India. According to the report, as many as 7,072 corruption cases probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were pending trial in various courts as of December 31, 2024, with 379 of them lingering for over two decades.
This backlog raises serious concerns about the pace of justice and the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures in the country.
The report provides a detailed analysis of pending cases based on the duration they have been in court:
- Less than 3 years: 1,506 cases
- More than 3 years, up to 5 years: 791 cases
- More than 5 years, up to 10 years: 2,115 cases
- More than 10 years, up to 20 years: 2,281 cases
- More than 20 years: 379 cases
The CVC emphasized that 2,660 cases have been pending for over a decade, reflecting a critical delay in judicial processes.
ALSO READ: 75 Years of Supreme Court: Tackling Pendency and Backlog with Innovation and Reform
In addition to trial cases, 13,100 appeals and revisions filed by the CBI and accused individuals are pending across High Courts and the Supreme Court, broken down as follows:
- More than 20 years: 606 cases
- 15–20 years: 1,227 cases
- 10–15 years: 2,989 cases
- 5–10 years: 4,059 cases
- 2–5 years: 1,778 cases
- Less than 2 years: 2,441 cases
Also Read: Allahabad High Court Faces Crisis: 50% Judges’ Seats Vacant, 11.5 Lakh Cases Pending
During 2024, the CBI secured judgments in 644 cases:
- Convictions: 392 cases
- Acquittals: 154 cases
- Discharges: 21 cases
- Other reasons: 77 cases
This resulted in a conviction rate of 69.14%, slightly lower than 71.47% in 2023, indicating both the challenges and successes of ongoing investigations.
In 2024, the CBI registered 807 new cases, including:
- Regular cases: 674
- Preliminary enquiries: 133
Other key statistics:
- Traps laid for bribery detection: 222
- Regular disproportionate assets cases: 43
- Cases on constitutional court orders: 111
- Cases on state government references: 61
During the year, investigations were completed in 1,005 cases (856 regular cases + 149 preliminary enquiries). However, at the end of 2024, 832 cases were still pending, including 776 regular cases.
The report notes delays in completing investigations due to several factors:
- Excessive workload and inadequate manpower
- Delays in obtaining responses to Letters Rogatory
- Delays in granting prosecution sanction
- Time-consuming scrutiny of voluminous records, especially in economic offences and bank frauds
- Difficulty in locating and examining witnesses in remote areas
Also Read: 83,000 Pending Cases| Supreme Court Backlog Approaching Record High
Under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the CBI registered 502 cases involving 859 public servants in 2024. Of these, 529 cases were pending investigation by the end of the year, including:
- Over 5 years: 56 cases
- 3–5 years: 60 cases
- 2–3 years: 64 cases
- 1–2 years: 108 cases
- Less than 1 year: 241 cases
Ideally, investigations should be completed within one year from registration, highlighting the ongoing need for procedural efficiency.
READ MORE INFORMATION ON SUPREME COURT
FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE
