This is one issue on which everyone would agree: that the highly corrupt escape and the smaller fish are arrested. This time though, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too is on your side and agrees on this.
On Wednesday Singh made it clear once more to the CBI that there is a perception that "big fish" often escape punishment. This must change and the CBI should act swiftly and without fear, he told the CBI and State anti-corruption official. "Aggressively pursue high level corruption," he told the senior officials.
Opening a conference of CBI and State anti-corruption bureaux here, he said there was no single remedy for fighting corruption which has to be combated at many levels, one of which was making existing systems less discretionary.
"High-level corruption should be pursued aggressively. There is a pervasive feeling that while petty cases get tackled quickly, the big fish escape punishment. This has to change," Singh said.
The Prime Minister said while quick investigation was important and necessary, it was not sufficient to bring the guilty to book.
"Trials should be conducted expeditiously and judgements delivered quickly. To begin with the aim should be to conclude the trial in two years so that punishment could be given to the offenders within a period of three years or so," he said.
Singh said the government has recently decided to set up 71 new CBI courts and expected them to function as model courts, hold day-to-day proceedings and avoid unnecessary adjournments.
"But pervasive corruption in our country tarnishes our image. It also discourages investors, who expect fair treatment and transparent dealings. As the country grows and integrates with the world economy, corruption continues to be an impediment to harnessing the best technology and resources," he said.
On Wednesday Singh made it clear once more to the CBI that there is a perception that "big fish" often escape punishment. This must change and the CBI should act swiftly and without fear, he told the CBI and State anti-corruption official. "Aggressively pursue high level corruption," he told the senior officials.
Opening a conference of CBI and State anti-corruption bureaux here, he said there was no single remedy for fighting corruption which has to be combated at many levels, one of which was making existing systems less discretionary.
"High-level corruption should be pursued aggressively. There is a pervasive feeling that while petty cases get tackled quickly, the big fish escape punishment. This has to change," Singh said.
The Prime Minister said while quick investigation was important and necessary, it was not sufficient to bring the guilty to book.
"Trials should be conducted expeditiously and judgements delivered quickly. To begin with the aim should be to conclude the trial in two years so that punishment could be given to the offenders within a period of three years or so," he said.
Singh said the government has recently decided to set up 71 new CBI courts and expected them to function as model courts, hold day-to-day proceedings and avoid unnecessary adjournments.
"But pervasive corruption in our country tarnishes our image. It also discourages investors, who expect fair treatment and transparent dealings. As the country grows and integrates with the world economy, corruption continues to be an impediment to harnessing the best technology and resources," he said.
