The Supreme Court on Friday told the CBI not to delay taking over of all the 185 FIRs in the Vyapam scam beyond three weeks.
With the agency citing staff crunch as a major roadblock to complete probe, the Bench directed the Centre to explain next week the steps being taken to fill up the existing vacancies.
The Court had transferred the Vyapam case probe from the Madhya Pradesh Police to CBI on July 9. But the CBI came into the scene only on July 13.
An affidavit by the CBI explained that after taking over the 185 FIRs under Vyapam, the agency had registered 11 other preliminary enquiry and a regular case in regard to the deaths of witnesses and accused linked with the scam.
Going by the present pace of probe, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar who appeared for CBI, sought six to eight weeks time to take over the entire investigation.
The Bench headed by Chief Justice Hl Dattu was not happy to allow such time. “Seventeen days have gone by. We have entrusted an onerous job on you. If you need the Central Government to give more officers, we can direct them to fill all vacancies,” said the Bench, suggesting that the process of taking over the entire probe must be done within three weeks.
Kumar expressed doubts even as he informed the court that on August 24, when the case is heard next, it will be in a better position to state whether it required more time.
For the present, the court extended its interim order allowing Madhya Pradesh STF to continue probe in relation to the 245 accused whose bail and remand orders are expiring this week.