Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has asked investigating officers to start preparing a draft chargesheet once an investigation is around 80 per cent complete and seek prosecution or legal opinion to plug gaps before filing the case in court.
The advice was given by Additional Superintendent of Police Narvir Singh Rathore during a two-day capacity-building course on “Investigation of Vigilance Cases” held at the Vigilance headquarters in Shimla on September 16 and 17. Around 25 investigating and police officers from the Vigilance Bureau and other police units attended the programme.
Rathore said professional approach, transparency, impartiality and speedy investigation were the key to a successful probe. He stressed that investigators must maintain a clear chain of evidence, carefully document every investigative step and strictly follow legal and procedural requirements.
“Once an investigation is about 80 per cent complete, the investigating officer should prepare a draft chargesheet and obtain prosecution/legal opinion,” Rathore said, adding that this would help identify shortcomings in time and allow the remaining investigation to be completed on priority.
He also called for closer coordination between investigating officers, forensic experts and prosecution officials so that evidence is collected lawfully and the case is presented effectively before the competent court.
The two-day training covered digital and mobile forensics, seizure of electronic devices, collection of handwriting and signature samples, investigation of PWD-related cases, pre-trap and trap procedures, post-trap action and documentation, criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act, provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, disproportionate-assets cases, causes of acquittals and investigation deficiencies, preparation of Statements A to D and effective use of electronic evidence.
Experts from CDTI Chandigarh, FSL Junga, the Prosecution Department, Public Works Department and the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau provided technical and practical inputs to the officers.
DGP, State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Ashok Tiwari, who guided the initiative, stressed continuous training and capacity building to improve the quality of vigilance investigations. He called for stronger skills in scientific and legally compliant evidence collection, documentation and assessment of evidence, along with strict adherence to law and prescribed procedures.
The Bureau said the training was aimed at developing a more professional, evidence-based and time-bound investigation system to strengthen both vigilance probes and their prosecution before courts.
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