Wednesday, March 9 2005 14:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Denying political interference in the working of CBI, the Government today (Mar 9, 2005) said in Lok Sabha that the agency had "full functional autonomy" under the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act and was accountable to Parliament.

"The CBI is accountable to Parliament as its budget is discussed by the department-related Parliament Standing Committee and voted by Parliament," Minister of State for Personnel Suresh Pachouri said during Question Hour.

Maintaining that the Government had been funding the premier investigating agency for modernisation and technical upgradation, he said in 2002-03, Rs 32 lakh was allocated and Rs 30 lakh spent on these heads. The allocation was raised to Rs one crore in 2003-04, of which Rs 89 lakh was spent.

The budget allocation this year has again been fixed at Rs one crore, Pachouri said.

Replying to questions relating to investigations against senior officials, he said when such proposals were forwarded to the Department of Personnel, the opinion of CVC and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) was taken before any recommendation was made to CBI to start probing a particular official.