‘Understaffed’ CBI to get 1,000 more personnel soon, says AG

The Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI) that is grappling with manpower shortage is likely to get more investigators, with the government deciding to recruit about 1,000 personnel to the existing cadre of inspectors.

Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi told a bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu that there was a severe dearth of manpower as state-level police officers were not willing to come on deputation to the CBI. On the contrary, he said, a large number of IPS officers of the rank of DIGs were keen to join on deputation.

“The main investigating officers, such as sub-inspectors and inspectors, do not want to come,” Rohatgi said during the hearing of a petition seeking a court-monitored CBI inquiry into the Vyapam scam and the deaths related to it.

The AG said for the post of one DIG in CBI, there are 10 applications from IPS officers. As such, he told the court, the CBI had decided to recruit investigators directly.

“About 1,000 personnel of various ranks will be hired. The UPSC and other government rules are sought to be relaxed to expedite the recruitment process,” the AG said.

The bench asked Rohatgi to file a detailed report on the steps being taken by the government to meet the demand. The court, which has fixed October 9 for hearing the Vyapam petitions, asked CBI to file a status report on or before the next date of hearing.