Over 7,200 CBI cases under Prevention of Corruption Act pending trial, says CVC report, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Over 7,200 cases probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the Prevention of Corruption Act were pending trial as of December 31, 2025.
• More than 400 of these cases had been pending for over 20 years, according to the annual report of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
• An additional 14,083 appeals, revisions, and writ petitions related to the Act were pending in High Courts and the Supreme Court.
• The CBI recorded a conviction rate of 71.71% in 2025, an increase from 69.14% in 2024.
• The CBI had 1,088 vacant positions out of a sanctioned strength of 7,300 as of December 31, 2025.

Detailed Insights:

• The 7,229 pending trial cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act highlight significant judicial delays in corruption proceedings.
• Of the 14,083 pending appeals in higher courts, 3,161 were 10-15 years old, and 739 were over 20 years old.
• The total number of court cases pending trial for the CBI, including non-PC Act cases, stood at 11,510 at the end of 2025.
• The agency had 755 corruption-related cases pending investigation, comprising 679 regular cases, 63 preliminary enquiries, and 13 Lokpal references.
• In 2025, the CBI registered 797 regular cases, 177 preliminary enquiries, and recorded 31 Lokpal references.
• The largest number of vacancies in the CBI (672 posts) was observed in the crucial executive ranks.
• The CVC processed 1,460 departmental inquiries for officers under its jurisdiction during 2025, completing 731 of them.
• The CVC received 34,153 complaints in 2025, in addition to 1,260 carried forward from 2024, and disposed of 35,193 complaints.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI): India's premier investigative agency, handling economic crimes, special crimes, and corruption cases.
• Prevention of Corruption Act: A key legislation in India aimed at combating corruption in government agencies and public sector bodies.
• Central Vigilance Commission (CVC): An apex Indian governmental body established to address governmental corruption and promote integrity in public administration.
• Lokpal: An anti-corruption authority or body of ombudsman representing the public interest in the Republic of India.