Hyderabad Dec. 8: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the state booked 443 cases this year as against the 367 last year. As the world observes Anti-Corruption Day, the ACB is gearing up to set a new record in taking action against graft. It has unearthed disproportionate assets worth Rs 60.32 crore this year when compared to Rs 58.85 crore last year. Also, it seized Rs 27.68 lakh this year by trapping officials demanding bribes.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Transparency International puts Andhra Pradesh in the “moderately corrupt” category. All Indian states are divided into four categories: alarmingly corrupt; very highly corrupt; highly corrupt; and moderately corrupt. Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, MP and UP belong to the alarmingly corrupt category while Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu are very highly corrupt. Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Kerala and Orissa are rated as highly corrupt states.
The director-general of ACB, Mr Girish Kumar, said that the increase in number of cases did not necessarily mean increased corruption. According to Mr Kumar, AP stood number one in booking disproportionate assets cases per investigating officer when compared with neighbouring states.
The biggest hurdle the ACB faces in its drive against corruption is getting government permission to proceed against IAS and IPS officers. It has to take permission of the government even to initiate an inquiry. The recent government order to the ACB not to arrest the officials found in disproportionate assets cases has also demoralised the sleuths.
Sources said that enquiries were yet to start in around 60 per cent of the ACB cases because of the lack of clearance from the government. Despite this, the ACB appears to be doing well.
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