152 Government Employees Caught Taking Bribes Worth ₹13 Crore In Gujarat, Home Department Tops List
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Despite repeated promises to make Gujarat corruption-free, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) data points to widespread bribery across government departments, with 152 government employees allegedly caught accepting bribes amounting to ₹13 crore over the past year.
The cases involve employees ranging from senior officials to Class IV staff, as well as private individuals and middlemen allegedly facilitating corrupt transactions. The Home Department recorded the highest number of employee-related cases, with 29 employees reportedly caught accepting bribes worth ₹2.64 crore. The Urban Development and Urban Housing Department followed, with 16 employees allegedly taking ₹2 crore.
The figures have once again raised questions about corruption in public offices, where citizens often complain of being made to pay money to get routine government work completed.
Home Department Records Highest Bribe Amount
According to the ACB data cited in the report, the Home Department accounted for 78 people caught in bribery cases, including 49 government employees and 29 private individuals. The total bribe amount involved was ₹2.64 crore.
The Revenue Department recorded 41 people caught, comprising 23 government employees and 18 private individuals. The bribes involved in these cases amounted to ₹1 crore.
The Urban Development and Urban Housing Department also featured prominently, with 16 employees reportedly caught accepting bribes worth ₹2 crore.
Panchayat, Health And Education Departments Also Under Scanner
The data also points to bribery cases across several other departments.
The Panchayat Department accounted for 50 people, including 21 employees and private individuals. In the Health Department, eight people were caught, comprising four government employees and four private citizens.
Four employees from the Education Department were also caught accepting bribes.
Other departments and agencies mentioned in the ACB figures include:
- Energy Department: Six people
- Industries Department: Five people
- Agriculture Department: Four people, as stated in the source
- Narmada Department: Seven employees
- Finance Department: Four employees
- Central government departments: 21 employees
ACB Relies On Public Complaints To Lay Traps
The ACB generally initiates action after receiving complaints from members of the public. Its teams then lay traps to catch officials and other individuals allegedly accepting bribes.
The latest figures highlight the scale of corruption cases detected across government departments, but they also raise questions about how many instances go unreported or remain undetected.
While the ACB continues to act on complaints and conduct trap operations, citizens' willingness to report demands for bribes remains crucial to exposing corruption in public offices.
