Kolkata, April 25 (IANS) With 9,000 cases pending in courts, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started relying on plea bargains to clear the backlog.

"We have 9,000 cases pending in court. We complete the process of investigation in each case in nine months. But after that, the case lies pending in court for years. So we are going for plea bargains," CBI director Ashwani Kumar told reporters.

"If the accused come to us with their confessions, we will reconsider the case by taking a lenient view. The process of trial can be expedited."

He said CBI has taken a decision to complete all investigations within one year.

"The government has also sanctioned 71 special courts exclusively for the agency. It is hoped that the courts will be functional by the year-end. With this, the CBI will be in a position to dispose off the trials within two years."

Replying to a query, he said the CBI has to depend on the state governments for identification of witnesses.

"We need to improve credibility, and efficiency," he added.