Jaipur, Oct. 22 -- Rajasthan police had 12,932 cases pending investigation for more than a year by September-end, an average of nearly 254 per police district, according to a police crime review report. Only 738 of the 13,670 older cases reviewed were disposed of during September, leaving 94.6% unresolved. According to a police report exclusively accessed by HT, Jaipur South had the largest number of such cases at 1,505. Jaipur East followed with 758, Bhilwara with 586, Sri Ganganagar with 556 and Deeg with 553. Together, these five jurisdictions accounted for 3,958 cases, or 30.6% of the statewide backlog. Jaipur South's disposal rate during September stood at 4.69%, below the statewide figure of 5.4%. Sri Ganganagar also fell below the state figure, disposing of 4.96% of its older cases. Jaipur East recorded a higher disposal rate of 9.22%, while Deeg recorded 6.11% and Bhilwara 5.64%. At the other end, the September review listed 14 cases older than a year in Salumber, 37 in Kota Rural and 65 in Banswara. The prolonged investigations formed a substantial part of Rajasthan's overall police pendency. Across categories, 69,920 cases were pending. Jaipur South recorded the highest overall pendency rate at 50.01%, with 4,581 cases outstanding. Deeg recorded an overall pendency rate of 47.02%, followed by Balotra at 36.59%, Chittorgarh at 35.78%, Nagaur at 34.99% and Jodhpur Rural at 34.98%. Kota Rural, in comparison, recorded 7.23%, followed by Banswara at 9.46% and Churu at 11.24%. The differences extended to ranges and commissionerates. Jaipur commissionerate recorded a pendency rate of 36.07%, the highest among those compared, while Kota range had the lowest at 15.68%. "Law and order duties, VIP movements and manforce shortages have contributed to the backlog. We are making every effort to reduce pendency in the coming months," DCP South Rajarshiraj told HT. The backlog persisted alongside a relatively modest increase in fresh cases. Rajasthan recorded 215,816 cases during January-September 2026, up 1.19% from 2,13,287 in the corresponding period of 2025. A separate police report accessed by HT on investigations pending for more than five years lists 1,512 entries, highlighting a backlog stretching back decades. Jaipur South topped the list with 189 cases, followed by Ajmer with 122, Jaipur East with 103, Deeg with 68 and Alwar with 67. Among the oldest were two cases lodged at Jaipur North's Ramganj police station on October 24, 1990, which the report lists as still pending. A senior police officer, speaking to HT on condition of anonymity, said pendency is often interpreted as a failure by police to investigate, a perception he described as incorrect. "Many cases remain pending because of judicial complexities. Around one-third involve political or caste-based agitations, and reopening them is difficult. A severe shortage of personnel relative to the caseload is another major reason for the backlog," the officer said. ADG (Crime) Bipin Pandey told HT, "We continuously monitor cases pending for five years, and the backlog has reduced significantly. Cases pending for a year are also reviewed at regular crime meetings. Earlier, we had fewer investigating officers, but promotions have enabled us to appoint more. We expect this to bring down pendency further." ADG Pandey added, "Rajasthan Police follows investigation timelines of 60 or 90 days, depending on the nature of the case, which have helped reduce the backlog. Specially in cases involving crimes against women, Rajasthan recorded a compliance rate approx of 90%, the highest in the country."...