If the Lok Sabha elections are an indication that the country voted for good governance, then the steep rise in the number of cases filed with the CBI’s anti-corruption branch show that more and more people are seeking transparency in the government.
While in 2007, the CBI registered just 15 cases of corruption, in 2008 the number jumped to 50 – more than a threefold increase. In the first quarter of this year alone, 15 cases have been registered. The CBI says this is because people are refusing to pay bribes and are turning in corrupt government officials despite the risks.
“Every day, we receive dozens of calls, with many people calling directly on my personal number. The fact that we are taking prompt action is also giving people hope,” said CBI Joint Director (Western Region) Rishi Raj Singh.
In the past six months, the CBI has netted several bigwigs from the Income Tax, Pune Cantonment and Estate departments and recently, their own man – a CBI sub-inspector.
CBI officers said the steep rise in bribe traps and corruption cases of the bureau have been possible only because people have come forward and lodged complaints. “Most of these complainants are from the age group of 25 to 45 years, and knew whom to approach when they were asked for a bribe,” said CBI superintendent of police Abhin Modak.
The official said that there are hardly any complainants over 50 years old, possibly since the older generation hesitates to lodge complaints out of the fear of being victimised. “The younger lot, however, is not worried about the risks involved. Moreover, we ensure that they are not harassed by the concerned department,” Modak explained.
Interestingly, few people complain because it is against their principles to pay bribes. “Only 10 out of every 100 complainants approach us because they do not believe in bribing officials. The rest are willing to pay to a certain extent, but when the demand is too much, they object and tell us. At times, people approach us because their ego is hurt when government servants demand bribes,” said another CBI officer.
The officer said he believes people will have more faith in their organisation with time. “That we caught a CBI SI shows that we do not spare even our own people,” he added.
Major kills by CBI this year
• Additional IT Commissioners R K Gupta and S M Keshkamat
• From the Estates departmentM M Banerjee
• Rajendra Pawar, CEO, Pune Cantonment
• CBI SI Deepak Kumar
• Every day, we receive dozens of calls, with many people calling directly on my personal number. The fact that we are taking prompt action is also giving people hope
– Rishi Raj Singh, CBI Joint Director (Western Region)