As many as 18 public servants were arrested on corruption charges in Haryana every month during 2022. As per the figures shared by the State Vigilance Bureau, 193 government servants, including 27 gazetted officers, 166 non-gazetted officials and 27 private individuals were arrested during the year 2022.
Director General (DG) State Vigilance Bureau (VB), Shatrujeet Kapur said the VB has registered a record number of cases related to graft in the previous year which enabled the state government to put a check on the corrupt practices in the government offices.
The Bureau registered 246 cases (including 170 traps) in 2022 which is the highest number during the last 10 years. He said that out of the 246 cases, 170 were registered on raids and 76 cases were registered on enquiries.
Kapur said that the Vigilance Bureau has shifted its focus from junior-level staff like clerks, patwaris, linemen, police personnel etc. to senior ranks, who are often the kingpins in running organised corruption rackets.
Highlighting the arrests of some high-ranking officials, the DG said one District Town Planner was caught red-handed taking Rs 5 lakh, bribe and co-accused Tehsildar was also arrested, while a Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner was caught red-handed taking Rs 50 thousand as bribe and a Jail Superintendent has also been arrested in a trap case.
This apart, five Haryana Civil Services (HCS) officers were arrested during the year on corruption charges. Further, two Chief Engineers, one Superintending Engineer and one Executive Engineer, a Chief Accounts Officer and One Joint Director of the Urban Local Bodies department have been arrested for siphoning off public funds.
A superintending engineer and accountant of municipal corporation were caught accepting Rs 1.40 lakh bribe, two executive engineers of haryana state agriculture marketing board and irrigation department were caught accepting Rs 1.60 lakh bribe, two sub divisional officers of power department and co-accused were caught red-handed taking Rs 3 lakh lakh.
The DG said 46 police personnel including two inspectors, 33 officers of the revenue department, 24 of power utilities, 14 of Urban Local Bodies, five of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumers Affairs, five of Transport, four of Education Department, three of Excise and Taxation, three each of Cooperation, Haryana Khadi and Village Industries Board, Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board, Horticulture and Town and Country Planning Departments were arrested red-handed while taking bribes ranging from Rs 5 thousand to Rs 5 lakh in separate cases.