7,229 CBI cases under Corruption Prevention Act pending trial; 409 for over 20 years: CVC report

More than 7,200 cases probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act were pending trial as on December 31, 2025. Of these, more than 400 cases were pending for over 20 years, according to the annual report of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

Apart from the 7,229 cases under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act awaiting completion of trials, there were 14,083 appeals, revisions, and writ petitions pending under the Act in the High Courts and the Supreme Court. Of them, 3,161 were 10-15 years old, while 1,347 were 15-20 years old, and 739 were over 20 years old.

During 2025, the conviction rate in CBI cases was 71.71% against 69.14% for 2024. At the end of the year, 11,510 court cases (including the cases not registered under the PC Act) were pending under trial in various courts.

Last year, the agency had 755 corruption-related cases pending investigation. They included 679 regular cases, 63 preliminary enquiries, and 13 Lokpal references. Of the 679 regular cases, 274 had been pending for over one year. During the year, the CBI registered 797 regular cases, 177 preliminary enquiries, and recorded 31 Lokpal references. It also conducted 265 traps in bribery cases and instituted 81 cases involving alleged possession of disproportionate assets.

Of the 1,005 cases registered, 161 were taken up on orders of Constitutional Courts, and 27 came from State governments/Union Territories. Judgments were received in 1,022 CBI court cases last year, resulting in 583 convictions, 193 acquittals, 37 discharges, and 209 were disposed of for other reasons.

The report stated that 201 distinct cases were pending for prosecution sanction as of December 31, 2025, and 72 references involving 172 officers were pending with different organisations for prior approval under Section 17A of the PC Act for conducting investigation.

As of December 31, 2025, sanctioned strength of the CBI was 7,300. However, there were 1,088 vacant positions. The largest vacancy of 672 posts was in the executive ranks. For officers under CVC jurisdiction, 1,460 departmental inquiries were under process during last year, of which 731 were completed. For employees outside its purview, 9,883 departmental inquiries were under process, of which 5,561 were completed.

The CVC received 2,770 cases during 2025, including 396 carried forward from 2024, and disposed of 2,434 cases. During 2025, its first-stage advice covered 4,626 officers/officials. Its advice included prosecution in 168 cases; major penalty proceedings in 987 cases; minor penalty proceedings in 617 cases; administrative action in 1,203 cases; and closure in 1,651 cases.

As many as 34,153 complaints, besides 1,260 carried forward from 2024, were received by the Commission during 2025. It disposed of 35,193 complaints.