CBI turns to technology to revamp itself

NEW DELHI: The CBI is undergoing a makeover with creation of new posts and major technological modernisation of all its investigating branches being undertaken in a time-bound manner.
    
Sources in the country's premier investigating agency said that the Central Forensic Science Laboratory along with its training Academy in Ghaziabad are also being modernised, with a "fervour to establish the agency as the best in the world".
    
While new posts like Joint Director East, West, South and North are being created to effectively control all its three investigative branches -- Anti-Corruption Division, Economic Offences Wing and Special Crimes division -- in the four regions, officials said an elaborate computer learning programme has also been initiated.
    
The agency which has hired agencies like the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to give suggestions for modernisation is also planning to include more hi-tech gadgets and online investigations, something which officials said would help probes to be completed within a year.
    
Also, a new CBI building with computerised access control and Wi-Fi besides other latest technology is being constructed at a cost of Rs 137.72 crore.
    
"There have been a lot of handicaps for us because of various reasons. We now have initiated a complete modernisation process which will make us more prepared to tackle the emerging nuances of the new world of crime," a senior CBI official said.

The official said, "The new Joint Directors for various regions would be looking after all the three branches in his region unlike earlier where we had different heads. The headquarters set up would remain the same."
    
The agency has also planned out more intake of legal heads to make the Directorate of Prosecution, which looks after prosecution aspects of CBI cases, function to its highest ability.
    
As part of its revamp plan, the CBI next year would also induct 38 "Gen next" sub-inspectors who are currently undergoing training at the CBI Academy.
    
The new breed of officers would be given minimal arms training but would undergo extensive hi-tech skills training.
    
"We have taken out the arms training module for them and have concentrated on increasing their hi-tech skills like using the latest softwares and gadgets which would be useful in their investigation," an official said.
    
He said with every second terror strike having a vital link to cyberspace, the agency has decided to train new officers more on cracking cyber crimes rather than focus on target shooting with arms.
    
The CFSL, one of the most advanced forensics laboratories, is also being completely revamped with the latest technology being added to all its departments, especially the DNA and ballistics division.
    
In its urge to the world's best, the CBI has also started the groundwork to get itself listed with some of the new databases of the Interpol than the regular Nominal database which carries just picture and basic information of people against whom the 187-member strong world police organisation has issued notices.

While almost all procedural necessity for enlisting itself into the Interpol databases on Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) has been completed, sources in the agency said steps are also being taken to include India in DNA and fingerprints databases of the international police agency.
    
With regard to SLTD, only 41 countries have participated in it whereas for DNA database, only 46 countries are participating.
    
"By the end of 2009, all major modernisation process would be completed. We are also trying to fill up the nearly 23 per cent vacancies in our sanctioned strength as fast as possible and hence have introduced a financial incentive scheme," a CBI official said.
    
He said the agency is also in the process of imparting basic computer skills to all its officials right from constable level.     

"We are working with a fervour to establish CBI as the best in the world. At the end of the process, you will get a completely able and modernised force ready to tackle any challenge that may be thrown at it," he said.