In order to probe big financial crimes, the Centre has approved a Centralised Technology Vertical (CTV) to provide Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) a real time access to data warehouses for professional expertise and collection of forensic evidences worth Rs 100 crore.
CBI which is investigating a number of financial fraud cases like the 2G, chit-fund and coal scams, has been demanding such a wing for fast and timely conclusion of probe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a conference on asset recovery in November last, had also said that a “Centralised Technology Vertical to focus on combating new age crimes like cyber crime, is also being planned” by the Government.
A total of Rs 99.19 crore has also been sanctioned by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) for the establishment of the CTV for the agency's ongoing scheme for "establishment of technical and forensic support units".
The idea of setting up of CTV was mooted by CBI Director Anil Sinha, who had last year asked for “real time support to investigations” with access to data warehouses and help from professionals in digital forensic analysis, forensic accounting and fraud examination.
Sinha had said the CBI investigations into complex financial crimes like 2G, coal scam, ponzi schemes, capital market scams pose multiple challenges, especially concerning money trail, recovery of proceeds of crime etc. Senior DoPT officials said the CTV will help the agency in probing complex crimes with the help of modern tools. At present, the CBI takes help of officers from other services like Indian Revenue Service, besides independent experts and professionals to investigate financial crimes.