More corrupt Gujarat officials get trapped in ACB net

The numbers of traps set up by the anti-corruption department to snare corrupt officials has increased consistently in the last four years. They were 364 in 2010, up from 284 in 2009. The successful traps increased from 183 in 2009 to 223 in 2010.

The official figures reveal that the fear of the ACB has had its effect on officials in the state, going by the increase in the numbers of cases in the last four years.

Talking to DNA, director, ACB, Chitranjan Singh said, “Since I took up the director’s post I have ensured that the numbers of traps be increased. I also ensured that the successful traps too rose along with the total numbers of traps.”

The number of total cases sharply increased to 284 in 2009, when Singh was posted to the ACB and eventually it went up to 364 cases, one of the highest numbers of cases in any year.

Total successful traps in 2010 were 223, while the unsuccessful traps were 141 for the same year. There were 183 and 101 successful and unsuccessful cases respectively for 2009.

Singh said, in the last two years, the department had ensured that the complainant come forward to file complaints without any fear.

Another cop, who didn’t want to be named, said that the complainant has been encouraged at all levels to file complaints against corrupt officers.

The information revealed by the Vigilance Commission in its 47th vigilance report also mentions that there are 1130 cases pending in different districts as on December 31, 2010. The highest numbers of cases, as per the report, are in Ahmedabad with 100 cases followed by Surat City (98) and Jamnagar (83).

The least number of pending cases are in Tapi-Vyara. However, the numbers of cases registered in this district too are very small.