New Delhi: Even as several MPs in the Lok Sabha raised concerns about adhocism in India’s premier investigation agencies, Union minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai on Wednesday (July 30) said that nearly 28% of the total sanctioned positions are lying vacant in the National Investigation Agency. On Tuesday, during the Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP K. Kanimozhi had asked the Union government why permanent heads of some of the investigation agencies had been given extensions even after their terms were over.On Wednesday, responding to a question, Rai informed the Lok Sabha that the NIA has 541 vacancies – which is about 28% of the total 1901 positions in the anti-terror agency. Rai’s written submission shows that 77 inspector positions, 93 sub-inspector posts and 54 assistant su-inspectors posts are yet to be filled. At a higher level, the posts of 12 superintendent of police (SP), 11 additional SPs, and 20 deputy SPs were also lying vacant. Rai’s response also informed that the NIA registered 677 cases for investigation until June 30, 2025. “During the last three years (i.e., 2022 onwards), judgements have been pronounced in 78 NIA cases with a conviction rate of 97.43% ,” he said.