Maharashtra ACB to upload photos of corrupt on upcoming Facebook page

In a bid to check corruption and embarrass the offenders, the Maharashtra Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) is planning to launch a page on a popular social networking site where it would upload the pictures of those caught for taking bribes.

"In a bid to intensify our action against corrupt and reach out to people, we are planning to use the popular platform of Facebook in a week time," said Director General of Police (ACB) Pravin Dixit.

The Facebook page, if started, will have the pictures of the accused, besides the details of the bribe amount the accused took, valuables and other documents recovered from him/her during searches at office and home, police said.

The ACB, which has laid as many as 744 traps so far this year, a 114 per cent jump from the same period last year, has been for the past two months publishing pictures of those caught in the act on its own website. During the 744 traps till August 16, it has arrested 1009 government employees and their associates, who are private individuals. In the same period last year, 348 traps were laid in which 452 were arrested.

"The reason why we are considering this idea is that it will damage the image of the arrested accused and it will deter others from accepting bribe," said another official.

If the pictures and other details are uploaded on the social networking site, the accused would be embarrassed in front of their family and friends and they may not indulge in such acts in future, if reinstated in their service, police said.