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| Also see : Anti-Corruption, M-PAC |
| Below are the News Articles / Stories pertaining to the 'Ant-Corruption Bureau (ACB)', Mumbai. |
| Home >> ACB in the News >> Anti-Corruption Bureau, Maharashtra |   Email this Page |
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Bribe hunting The next time a government official demands a bribe from you, don't cough up; just call the Anti-Corruption Bureau Imaging: SEBASTIAN Want to complain about a government official asking for a bribe? Write to or call: Director, Anti Corruption Bureau (Maharashtra) 1st Floor, Madhu Industrial Estate, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli, Mumbai 400013 Tel: 2492 1212 Sunil Shivdasani & Jyoti Shelar M AHARASHTRA'S ANTI-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says it has embarked on a drive to nab government officials who extend a greedy hand to ask for "chai-pani", "a little help", "a small donation", whatever, and refuse to budge until you've coughed up the illegal amount. There is a small catch though. The ACB, which works under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, (PCA), can act only through complaints and tip offs from sources, informers and members of the general public. "On an average we get one complaint a day. But we cannot act on each and every complaint; we have to verify them," says Vilas Tupe, Additional DCP, ACB, Mumbai. "Only after the ACB is con vinced that there is substance in the allegations made, does it go ahead with laying a trap," he adds. The trap unfolds If you do make a complaint to the ACB, and they decide to lay a trap for a suspect, it may not exactly be cloak-and-dagger stuff, but does involve a great deal of planning. A team is formed under the captainship of a senior officer who keeps the details of the operation secret till the last minute. The team is asked to meet at an appointed place and time and you will also be called to the same venue. Panch witnesses will be on hand to witness the trap and draw up a panchnama of the operation. (A panch witness is an independent person who is not related to the complainant or associated with the ACB.) At the venue the complainant (that's you) will offer the money to the accused. If he takes the money personally, he can be caught red-handed. Sometimes, though, an official may ask for the currency notes to be put in a file or in his drawer, or be handed to a colleague. To provide clinching evidence in such circumstances, the currency notes are marked either by noting their serial numbers or dusting them with anthracene or phenolphthalein powders, which are invisible but can be seen under ultraviolet rays. Once the accused accepts the money, a signal is given to another panch witness who stands close by. He in turn will signal other members of the team who wait at vantage points or exit routes. The team members then rush in and identify themselves before the accused. The currency notes in the possession of the accused or his colleagues are then identified by ultraviolet rays or by their serial numbers. The accused is then asked to defend himself by giving his statement. The witnesses draw up a panchnama of the trap which are later produced before the court. After the accused is arrested, an identification parade is held by a magistrate where witnesses identify the person who is alleged to have taken the bribe. Incidentally, police do not participate in the identification parade. Clearly, this is a process that would require a fair amount of the complainant's time. One of the many reasons, says Tupe, that their conviction rate is just 50 per cent. "Complainants often do not cooperate fully with us. Sometimes they even turn hostile," he says. In a few cases, even panch witnesses turn hostile, he re veals. What offers hope, says Tupe, is that more citizens are coming forward to file complaints: "In the last three months, 35 cases have been registered." He adds that they have submitted a proposal to the government to allow them to hand out rewards to those who offer them information. What's in a name? When it comes to the infamous 'dispropor tionate assets' matters get more complicated. According to ACB officials, such an investigation usually starts after a raid at a suspect's premises. The search usually yields essential clues like documents pertaining to flats, bungalows or shops purchased, bank accounts, lockers, credit card bills, cash and jewelry. "Based on these clues, we begin questioning the accused. We also find various leads by raiding the places purchased by the accused," says Tupe. Obviously, many of the ill-gotten gains are not owned under the suspects' name. And investigating benami transactions constitutes the most difficult and tedious part. Tupe explains, "Let's take an example of a public servant driving a posh car. He fills the petrol in the car, he parks it in his building compound. But when questioned about it, he will claim it belongs to his brother or relative. We then have to question his brother or relative, and investigate their sources of income as well." That would involve another round of paperwork, patient legwork in banks, any other companies or individuals involved. Following the money trail is a long drawn process. For the guilty can go to great lengths to hide their tracks. sunil.shivdasani@hindustantimes.com jyoti.shelar@hindustantimes.com ARRESTS IN MAHARASHTRA IN 2006 429 Traps The maximum came from the Revenue (92) and Police (78) depts 21 Corruption & criminal misconduct 26 Disproportionate assets URL : http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=15_04_2007_007_002&typ=0&pub=264 |
| Also see : Anti-Corruption, M-PAC |
