Filling up CBI vacancies to probe Vyapam scam not feasible: A-G

Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi on Friday told the Supreme Court that filling up current vacancies within CBI in order to probe the Vyapam scam was not feasible as 50 per cent of its cadre came from officers on deputation, generally not equipped with investigation skills. Addressing the court on the question whether the vacancies within CBI can be filled, Rohatgi said the agency had an uphill task of investigating the most sensitive cases in the country with the available staff that can only handle about 1,000 cases. Investigation is handled by officers above Inspector rank while those who join on deputation are either below the rank or are too senior to be handed the probe.

Faced with the Vyapam scam, where the CBI is falling short of about 300 officers, Rohatgi assured the bench headed by Chief Justice Hl Dattu that talks have concluded with MP Police which has agreed to release its officers previously engaged with the Vyapam scam. Rohatgi said that as in other cases such as Saradha Chit Fund scam, the officers drawn from MP police will not be involved in Vyapam probe but will be engaged in other cases probed by CBI. The Court sought resolution of the problem by August 24, the next hearing in the Vyapam case.