The Central Crime Branch (CCB) seems to be getting armed with overarching powers as a regular police station. This will make it more powerful than the famed CBI and CID in the State.
The State government has approved four new police stations for CCB for the four police divisions in the city. Police Commissioner N.S. Megharik confirmed that a government order in this regard has been passed and the process of setting up these stations would begin soon. Each station is likely to be headed by an Assistant Commissioner of police.
The move has drawn much ire from officers serving in the city. They say that the move will add to confusion as these police stations will end up intruding in the jurisdiction of existing police stations.
As of now, the CCB is authorised to conduct raids across the city, but registers FIRs in the jurisdictional police stations, as it had no police station powers.
The CBI and Lokayukta, formed under Special Police Establishment Acts, can file FIRs, but the CCB can register cases only under the Prevention of Corruption Act and not under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). All the other cases are either transferred to CBI from the State government or courts. However, henceforth the CCB police stations can file cases under the IPC, making them all the more powerful than these vigilance institutions.
A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) said that this would end up creating a parallel system, undermining the authority of existing police stations. A senior officer, who had served in CCB, said that the move will not only create administrative issues, it is also feared that corruption will be on the rise.
A retired police officer said that CCB had faced many accusations of corruption and the Special Enquiry Squad, which had earned a notorious reputation for seeking ransom from illegal businesses, was closed down for the same reason.
A former police commissioner and a DCP (Crime) was transferred out after a businessman ended his life leaving a death note blaming the officers for harassing him for money. A chartered accountant was recently rescued from the CCB office by the Human Rights Commission. He was allegedly abducted to force him to sell his land to a realtor.
“CCB was once lampooned as Cash Collection Bureau. With this move, it may regain its notoriety,” a retired officer said.
CENTRAL CRIME BRANCH
Early 1960s: Cycle Squad formed to deal with increasing cycle thefts
September 1971: Central Crime Branch formed to replace Cycle Squad
1993: Erstwhile Special Squad merged with CCB to function under a DCP called ‘DCP Detective and Narcotics’.
1994: CCB reorganised into Homicidal and Burglary Squad, Women & Narcotics Squad, Fraud and Misappropriation Squad; Special Enquiries Squad; City Crime Record Bureau.
HOW CCB WORKS
Cannot register FIRs
Police Commissioner transfers cases to CCB based on importance of case
CCB registers case in the jurisdictional police station
