No need for enhanced superintendence over CBI: CVC

New Delhi: There is no need for enhanced superintendence over the CBI which is working with the help of the best officers, the Central Vigilance Commission said on Tuesday.

"CBI has very competent and professional people. There is no need for enhanced superintendence over them. The officers working there have very good credentials," Vigilance Commissioner T M Bhasin told PTI in an interview here.

His views holds importance as the Supreme Court has been seeking CVC's assistance in various cases being probed by the CBI. The anti-corruption watchdog is also assisting in a probe against former CBI director Ranjit Sinha, accused of scuttling the probe in coal blocks allocation scam.

There had been difference of opinion between CBI and CVC over closure of certain coal blocks cases.

Bhasin said there is a provision for monthly meeting between the CBI and the CVC and there is good coordination between the two agencies.

"There is a meeting every month to discuss on matters. That interaction is more than enough," Bhasin said.

CBI provides details on preliminary enquiries (PEs) and registered cases (RCs), separately, to the CVC during such meetings.

The Commission exercises superintendence over the CBI in investigations related to corruption cases. It is also empowered to select cases of grave or serious nature in addition to important and long pending cases being probed by the CBI and conduct an in-depth review of the progress of investigation every quarter or so.

Bhasin said the CVC is taking many steps to check delay in processing corruption cases.

"We are holding meetings with Chief Vigilance Officers of ministries and departments to take stock of cases pending with them. We are asking them to speed up the probe and complete enquiries wherever possible," he said.

On an average, it takes more than eight years for finalising a major vigilance case from the date of occurrence of irregularity, whereas detection of irregularity takes on an average more than two years, according to a recent study conducted by the Commission.

"We want this time period to come down," the Vigilance Commissioner said.