NIA to probe only gravest cases: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Feb 17 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will probe only the gravest incidents of terror crimes and a team of officers is already in place to handle such cases.

"Only gravest cases of crimes will be taken up for investigation by the NIA, which will operate in a concurrent jurisdictional framework," Chidambaram said.

Chidambaram was replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha.

"A team of officers is already in place to handle such cases, and orders have been issued for appointment of one DIG, two superintendents of police, two deputy superintendents of police and two inspectors," Chidambaram added.

The Minister, however, refused to take up investigation in the Mumbai attacks case.

"NIA will take up cases referred by the states. It would not take up investigation in the attacks case probe as the probe was 'almost complete' and the Mumbai Police is 'poised to file a chargesheet' in the matter," Chidambaram said.

National Investigation Agency was set up in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks.

It is under the administrative control of the Home Ministry. The agency has concurrent jurisdiction which empowers the Centre to probe terror attacks in any part of the country covering offences such as challenge to the country's sovereignty and integrity, bomb blasts, hijack of aircraft and ships, and attacks on nuclear installations. (ANI)