With investigations into various corruption cases stuck at different stages, the CBI is finding it difficult to proceed further in these cases in the absence of prosecution sanctions by competent authorities at the Centre. Sources said nearly 45 applications of the CBI seeking sanction for prosecution against senior government officials in different corruption cases are pending with several Central departments for the last several months.
“Even as there is a huge public outcry over various scams involving the government departments, it appears that departments or organisations concerned are least bothered to curb corruption,” said a senior official of the CBI.
According to the list prepared by the CBI of such pending sanctions till May 31, 2016, the ministry of personnel public grievances and pensions accounts for five of the total 45.
Sources further said, “These requests are pending with the Central ministries and some nationalised banks for the last four months. With sanction for prosecuting two officials still pending with it, the ministry of health and family welfare comes a close second.”
Besides, the CBI’s requests against two officials of the ministry of railways are also pending with the state government for the last several months, they added.
As far as pending sanction requests against the officials of the nationalised banks are concerned, sources said, “Around 10 requests of the CBI for prosecution sanction against senior officials of the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) are still pending with the competent authorities for the last several months. The CBI is waiting for the sanctions to conduct further probe against suspected officials.”
Despite several reminders, the IOB has so far not given sanctions against the suspected bureaucrats who have been booked in several cases, sources said.
Authorities concerned should not hesitate in giving sanction for prosecution against the corrupt officials, sources said. In the absence of sanction of prosecution, the CBI cannot initiate its probe or chargesheet the suspected officials, they clarified.
