CBI castigated for taking 13 years to review documents

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) came under fire from a New Delhi court for taking such a long time to go over documents, thus prolonging the trial of a case, during which five of the accused had died.

"It took around 13 years for CBI to comply with the mandatory provision of supply of copies u/S 207, CrPC [Supply to the accused, the copy of police report and other documents]," Special Judge Dinesh Kumar Sharma said.

"It is very difficult to understand what was the rationale of citing so many witnesses and filing of load of documents — when they were not to be examined and proved."

Sanctions

The judge's remark came following the handing down of two years imprisonment to Lalit Kumar Parmar, director of private firm Punjab Phosphate. He was also fined Rs20,000 (Dh1,462). The court also slapped a Rs50 million fine on Punjab Phosphate.