Govt okays `100 cr special unit in CBI to probe fin crimes

In order to strengthen CBI’s capabilities for probing big-ticket financial crimes, the government has approved a Centralised Technology Vertical to provide the probe agency real time access to data warehouses for professional expertise and collection of forensic evidences at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

The agency, 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, official sources said on Thursday. The Department of Personnel and Training, which acts as nodal authority for the CBI, has approved a proposal for the establishment of the CTV.

A total of Rs 99.19 crore has also been sanctioned for it under an ongoing scheme for “establishment of technical and forensic support units”, the sources said. The idea of setting up of CTV was mooted by CBI Director Anil Sinha. Sinha had said the CBI investigations into financial crimes like 2G, coal scam, ponzi schemes pose multiple challenges, especially concerning money trail, recovery of proceeds of crime etc. across multiple jurisdictions.