When SC suggested a CBI probe against CBI

There should be "a CBI probe against CBI", the Supreme Court remarked on Monday as it blamed the agency for its constant refrain about severe manpower deficit, saying it had itself shown apathy towards filling up these vacancies leading to a shortfall of investigators.

"You (CBI) have created the present situation because of your own apathy towards the problem on which you keep harping upon," a bench comprising justices T S Thakur and C Nagappan said.

"This is not a happy situation... In fact, there should be a CBI probe against CBI for not promoting staffers inside CBI," the bench said.

The bench, while perusing CBI's response on its questions relating to cadre strength and the last revision, said the agency, which does not promote its own people, keeps alleging non-cooperation by the state police.

The CBI, in its response, told the bench that currently there were over 700 vacancies at different levels and there has been "no comprehensive revision of cadre" since its inception in 1963.

"You have been telling Kolkata people (to provide it with investigators to probe chit fund scam). Tell us, what have you done to bring 317 persons (total vacancies under deputation quota) into your own fold," the bench said, asking the agency to fill up the vacancies "immediately".

Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for CBI, said there has been a shortfall of staffers in the agency and moreover, police officers at lower level do not want to come on deputation.

He, however, said some recruitment has been undertaken and the Attorney General himself was looking into it.

The court, which has been hearing interim pleas of CBI on shortfall of police officers to probe the Saradha and other chitfund scam cases, then adjourned the hearing by two weeks.

The West Bengal police, which was asked by the Apex court to double the number of policemen it had earlier offered to CBI to probe non-Sardha chit-fund scam cases in the state, on Monday agreed to abide by the order but sought some more time in this regard.

Earlier, the court had taken note of CBI's contention and had sought specific information including the cadre strength and its last revision before intervening to resolve the vexatious issue.

"What is the current cadre strength of the CBI and when it was revised last? What was the number of cases pending with the CBI when the cadre strength was last revised," it had asked.

The CBI would have to also apprise the court about the "impediments" it faced in filling up vacancies and steps taken in this regard.

The bench is hearing the agency's interim application seeking additional manpower from West Bengal police for registration of 265 non-Saradha chit-fund scam cases there.

The probe agency had said it needed 10 SPs, 15 Investigating Officers of the rank of Additional SPs, 30 IOs of the rank of Dy SPs and 85 IOs to rank of Inspectors.

In addition, the agency had also said it required 40 SIs, 20 ASIs and 30 Head Constables for this purpose.