From serious fraud to sensational cases under IPC, CBI is now truly a federal investigative agency, said director Anil Sinha.
The chief of India's top investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI, has stressed on expanding the definition of corruption to increase the scope of what the agency can investigate.
"We must think of expanding (the) definition of corruption and expansion of implementation of anti-corruption laws. We need to redefine what an act of corruption means. We must take up more challenging cases in what are considered grey areas," CBI Director Anil Sinha said.
Quoting an order of the Supreme Court, Mr. Sinha added, "Officials of private banks come under the ambit of anti-corruption law. The number of cases handed over to CBI has been mounting over the years. From serious fraud to sensational cases under IPC, CBI is now truly a federal investigative agency."
Mr Sinha was in Mumbai for the opening of the CBI's new office. Located in the upscale Bandra-Kurla Complex, the office will have modern facilities and will house all wings of the agency that currently function from premises spread across South Mumbai. "In the last two years there has been an upsurge in the offences in cyber space. We are thinking of setting up a branch to deal with cyber-crimes here," the CBI chief revealed.
Underlining the importance of the CBI's operations in the metro, he said, "Mumbai is the financial capital and directly affects the Indian economy. CBI has investigated major cases in Mumbai like the Harshad Mehta case. It is fitting that we have an office that allows officers to do their job in an efficient manner."
The new building will house a computerised access control system, modular work stations, a regional training centre, record rooms and an auditorium.