In a stark contrast to the state government’s claim of promoting a “corruption-free Gujarat”, recent Home Department data reveals widespread corruption within the police force. Over the past three years, police personnel have been caught accepting bribes totalling ₹36.56 lakh.

The Home Department reports that eight police officers and 47 personnel were apprehended for bribery during this period. These cases span a wide range of corrupt activities, undermining the integrity of law enforcement in the state.

Most commonly, bribes were accepted to passively turn a blind eye to various offences, including:

• Wandering livestock
• Betting on sports such as cricket
• Off-the-books sales of highly controlled biofuel
• Activities deemed illegal under prohibition
• Smuggling of wood and stone
• Vehicles carrying cattle to the abottoir

Bribe money also paid for corrupt police personnel to take an active role to lessen criminal charges, or leave names out of cases, and release impounded vehicles. Dirty cops also accepted pay-offs to help complainants file applications and for accused to apply for bail. 

These findings cast doubt on Gujarat’s anti-corruption efforts and highlight a pervasive stain on the khaki uniform.

However, the issue of corruption has long plagued the home department, of which the police are a part. For instance, In 2019, corruption in the home department was valued at ₹37 lakh, a considerable increase from ₹20 lakh in 2018 and ₹5 lakh in 2017. 

For all its “May I help you?” messaging, perhaps it is time for the Gujarat police to look inwards and help bridge the gap between the government’s claims and the reality on the ground.

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