CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on granting bail to the Delhi Chief Minister on money laundering, a Delhi court has granted the central bureau of investigation (CBI), a 3-day custody of the CM.

Central Bureau of Investigation

• Origin: The CBI was established as the Special Police Establishment in 1941, to investigate cases of corruption in the procurement during the Second World War.
• Formalised agency: To investigate allegations of corruption in various wings of the Government of India by enacting the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.

oThe CBI is not a statutory body but derives its power to investigate from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.

• Establishment of the CBI: In 1963, the CBI was established by the Government of India with a view to investigate serious crimes  and maintain integrity in administration.

oThe establishment of the CBI was recommended by the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption (1962–1964).

• CBI Director: There shall be a director of CBI who heads the department. He is appointed on the recommendation of a three-member committee consisting of the Prime Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India or Judge of the Supreme Court nominated by him.
• Nodal Ministry: Department of Personnel, Ministry of Personnel, Pension & Public Grievances which falls under the prime minister’s office.

Functions

• Its primary objective involves conducting investigations into violent crimes using a robust system and advanced technology.
• Its role extends to addressing and countering cybercrimes and crimes related to social platforms.
• Its presence serves to assist, oversee, and provide backing to law enforcement agencies when handling complex and high-profile cases.
• The agency is responsible for probing cases involving corruption, bribery, misconduct, and misbehavior among federal government employees.