Gujarat Home dept tops corruption cases in state: DGP

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Police's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered maximum number of corruption cases against officials and employees of the State Home Department in the first five months this year, state police chief Amitabh Pathak said today.

"We have registered 27 corruption cases against the Home Department (officials and employees) by May, the highest among any of the state government departments," the DGP told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of state ACB's promotional campaign to raise awareness on corruption.

In 2008, 35 corruption cases were filed against the Home Department staff, while 40 cases were lodged against the Panchayat and Rural Housing Department staff, according to a statement issued by the ACB here today. Thirty-two cases were registered against the Revenue department in the same year.

In 2009, there was a rise in graft cases in the Home department, as 40 cases were registered against its employees. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, the number rose 65, 52 and 57 respectively.

Last year, 39 corruption cases were registered against employees of the Panchayat and Rural Housing department, while 30 cases were against those from the revenue department, the ACB stated, adding that 12 cases were against officials of the urban development and housing department.

Thirty-one corruption cases were lodged against the Narmada and Water Resources department over the last five years.

"No corruption cases were registered in the last five years against the Sports, Youth and Cultural Affairs Department, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Science and Technology Department...," the ACB said. Fifty-four cases were registered against various central government departments and agencies.

The ACB also launched a toll free number - 180023344444 - where citizens can register complaints regarding bribe and corruption cases by any official of state government or any private organisation.

The anti-corruption bureau said it would intensify its publicity campaign against corruption through bulk SMSes, slides at multiplexes, slides on television and cable channels, radio channels and panels on transport buses. Minister of State for Home Rajnikant Patel, who inaugurated the campaign, said the state government had spent Rs 80 lakh on this project.

State ACB special director Ashish Bhatia and joint director G S Malik were also present on the occasion.