Revenue Department tops the list followed by Police Department in the dirty business
Nagpur: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Nagpur Division, was kept busy by the corrupt State Government officials and employees as the Bureau trapped 58 officials till August this year. Though this is an all-time high number of traps by ACB, it also indicates the culture of corruption prevailing in the system, according to a report.
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04 April 2025
The report said that a comparison with ACB traps for the same period during last year shows a jump of 18.96 per cent in corruption cases in Nagpur Division. Catching nine Class-I officers red-handed while accepting bribes by ACB this year showcases the corruption in higher ranks.
The data compiled by ACB reveals that 56 corrupt officials were trapped by ACB till August in the year 2020. The number decreased to 47 for the same period in 2021. In 2022, however, the number of successful traps increased by 18.96 percent with the arrest of 58 corrupt officials till August.
Data of department-wise action of ACB revealed that of these 58 corrupt officials arrested this year, 16 were from Revenue Department, followed by eight from Police Department, six from Rural Development Department, four from Forest Department, three each from Land Records Department, School Education and Sports Department and Panchayat Samiti, two each from Urban Development Dept – 2, Agriculture Department and Energy Department, one each from Municipal Council, Animal Husbandry Department, Water Conservation Department, Public Health Department, State Excise Department, CAG, Higher and Technical Education Department and Women and Child Welfare Department.
The Nagpur Division of ACB covers six districts namely Nagpur, Wardha, Gondia, Bhandara, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur.
According to the report and SP ACB, Rakesh Ola, the high rate of success in traps showcases the growing confidence among citizens about positive feedback from our side as to dealing with their complaints. The aim of the agency is to stamp out corruption from the delivery system vis-a-vis government offices. Similarly, field officers were directed to stay connected with the people so that the ACB’s goal of reining corrupt Government officials would be achieved.
Lure of easy money often prompts babudom to seek gratification as people one time or another do need to visit the Government office to get their work done. While sometimes citizens avoid lodging the complaint, nowadays increased awareness has led to people willing to stand-up and approach ACB to seek action against corrupt babus and officers.
After receipt of a complaint against Government officials, ACB goes with full force irrespective of the status of individual, citing past instances where one of the important trap reported this year was – – arrest of three top officials of Soil &Water Conservation Department for accepting bribe of Rs 50 lakh from a contractor towards clearing of his pending bills. This happened for the first time when ACB Nagpur seized such a huge amount of cash from the corrupt officials, the SP said.
