Saturday 23 November 2013

Andhra Anti Corruption Bureau record harvest of corrupt babus

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy
In a record level harvest Anti Corruption Bureau has trapped more 
than 297 corrupt babus in the state while they were accepting bribe till date this year. 
ACB has broken the previous record of 264 officials caught red handed and arrested in 
graft cases in 2002. The spy camera and audio recordings by ACB sleuths revealed 
interesting conversation between the bribe giver and corrupt officials. ACB has seized 
around Rs 63 lakh cash in trap cases and Rs 31 crore of disproportionate assets of state 
government officials so far this year.
ACB director Mr. Kumar Viswajeet said,”due to stepped up pressure by the agency the 
corrupt babus were caught on record asking the complainant "did you inform ACB". Due to 
fear of being trapped they were trying to confirm before accepting the graft,” ACB 
records the conversations between the complainant and corrupt official secretly to create 
evidence against the accused.
Despite two months lull due to United Andhra agitation in Seemandhra region and at 
secretariat government office didn’t function and there were no traps for ACB. However 
ACB broke the record of 2002 and trapped several officials mostly of Revenue and 
Transport department.
ACB director Kumar Viswajeet says increased efforts to nab the corrupt officials by ACB 
and as well as taking up cases of smaller amounts too in order to curb grassroots level 
corruption have resulted in increased traps.
“We are taking up the cases of all those who are genuine complainants even the graft 
amount is small. It is not the question of small fish but the issue of corruption in 
rural areas. In villages revenue officials including VROs were found demanding money from 
farmers for issuing pattadar pass books. They amounts may be Rs 500 or Rs 1000 but it is 
big for those in villages,” said Viswajeet. ACB registered 19 cases of disproportionate 
assets when compared six DA cases previous year. ACB was focusing more on liquor scam 
investigation during 2012 and booked only 94 cases of corrupt officials.
However the conviction rate has come down this year. The per centage conviction has come 
down from 45 per cent in 2012 to 42 per cent in 2013 till November 13. Dismissal from 
service and punishment by disciplinary authorities have also come down. ACB officials 
hope that by the end of the year they will also catch up. ACB has conducted around 30 
regular enquiries and 37 discreet enquires and surprise checks.

Trap cases                          182           94             292
Assets cases                       54               6           19
Trap amount seized           27.89         13.6          63.26
% conviction                 48.94            45.08         42.04

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