Only 12% Corruption Complaints Lead To Firs: ACB Director

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) ** Srinagar-** Only about 1–2 percent of corruption complaints received by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) eventually lead to the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) after detailed verification, Director Shakti Kumar Pathak said.

Speaking in an interview podcast, Pathak said the bureau receives a large number of complaints related to development works, administrative issues and alleged irregularities in government departments, but only a small fraction of them meet the legal threshold required for criminal investigation.

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“Only about one to two per cent of complaints ultimately result in FIR registration after verification,” he said.

** Rising Complaints Reflect Public Trust
** The ACB Director said the increasing number of complaints should be seen as a positive sign, indicating that citizens are beginning to trust anti-corruption institutions.

“Normally people approach us when they feel the situation has crossed the line. The increase in complaints actually shows that people believe action will be taken,” he said.

He added that tackling corruption cannot be the responsibility of investigative agencies alone and requires active cooperation from the public.

“Corruption cannot be the responsibility of one agency alone. It is the duty of the public as well. Until people decide that they do not want to be involved in corruption, the problem will continue,” he said.

** Strict Verification Before Action
** Pathak said the bureau follows a strict multi-layer verification process before initiating trap operations or registering cases to ensure complaints are genuine and not motivated.

He said a separate team conducts secret verification of both the complainant and the accused official before proceeding further.

“We verify the entire record of the complainant as well as the person against whom the complaint is made. Only when we are satisfied that the demand is genuine do we proceed with a trap,” he said.

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According to him, the team conducting the verification is different from the team that eventually carries out the trap operation to ensure impartiality.

** Trap Cases Often Involve Lower-Rank Officials
** Responding to criticism that the ACB targets lower-rank officials more frequently, Pathak said such perceptions arise because these officials are usually the ones dealing directly with cash transactions.

“The officers who deal directly with cash and smaller payments are usually at the lower level. That is why trap cases are more visible at that level,” he said.

However, he said the bureau is ready to act against higher authorities if complainants come forward and cooperate with investigators.

** Safeguards Against False Complaints
** Pathak acknowledged that false or malicious complaints do occur and said the bureau has safeguards to prevent innocent officials from being framed.

He said anonymous and pseudonymous complaints are generally not entertained in accordance with government guidelines.

“Our responsibility is not only to catch corrupt officials but also to ensure that honest officers are not wrongly implicated,” he said.

** Outreach And Awareness
** The ACB Director said the bureau has been conducting public outreach programmes to encourage citizens to report corruption and understand complaint mechanisms.

During Vigilance Awareness Week, organised around the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31, the bureau reached nearly 50,000 people through awareness campaigns under the theme“Vigilance is Shared Responsibility.”

** J&K Bank Case Under Investigation
** On the alleged scam involving Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Pathak said the investigation is ongoing and requires careful examination of evidence and documents.

“Investigation is a long process. Evidence has to be collected, documents examined and links between the accused established. It cannot be concluded in just a few days after registering an FIR,” he said.

Reiterating the need for public support, Pathak said corruption can be effectively tackled only when citizens actively refuse to participate in corrupt practices and cooperate with investigative agencies. (KNO)

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