CBI for amendments to existing laws in graft cases?

The Central Bureau of Investigation is learnt to have favoured amendments to the existing laws than having a new measure to deal with graft cases involving foreign public officials and officials of public international organisations.

CBI Director A P Singh who appeared before a parliamentary panel on Tuesday is understood to have told the panel that the agency preferred amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act to deal with such cases.

Several members of the committee supported the suggestion saying that new laws only add to the confusion and are difficult to amend.

"Amending existing laws is far more easier than having new measures," a member said after the meeting.

Senior officials of the Central Vigilance Commission and the Enforcement Directorate were also called to depose before the panel.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice and Personnel is scrutinising the 'Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of the Public International Organisations Bill, 2011' which seeks to prevent corruption relating to bribery involving foreign public officials and officials of public international organisations.

The bill, introduced in Lok Sabha in March last year, prohibits accepting gratification by foreign public officials or official of public international organisation and making such act punishable with imprisonment for a term of at least six months with a fine.

The legislation confers power to the central government to enter into agreements with foreign countries enforcing the provisions of the proposed measure.