Of the 104 trap cases in 2024 where officials were caught red-handed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Haryana, 34 involved police officials, representing the highest number of cases against any single department.

One of the cases involved two sub-inspectors from Faridabad. Sub-Inspector Arjun Singh was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 12.5 lakh. An additional Rs 7.47 lakh was recovered from his vehicle on November 21. The bribe was allegedly demanded to facilitate bail for two individuals in a cyberfraud case. Sub-Inspector Ram, a co-accused, fled the scene. This case marked the highest bribe amount recovered in 2024.

 Inquiries & action

• Of the 90 inquiries conducted in 2024, the ACB recommended criminal cases against 47 gazetted officers, 57 non-gazetted officials, and 29 private individuals in eight cases
• In 24 inquiries, departmental action was recommended against 31 gazetted officers and 52 non-gazetted officials. In other 29, both criminal cases and departmental action was recommended against 33 gazetted officers, 43 non-gazetted officials and three private individuals.Special checks

  During a special review of 71 civil works by the technical wing of the ACB, action was recommended against 63 officials from various departments, alongside the recovery of Rs 2.82 crore

In another instance, Kanungo Karambir Singh from the Revenue Department was apprehended on November 26 in Kaithal while accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh. Additionally, an HCS officer and an Excise and Taxation official were arrested during separate raids.

Overall, the ACB registered 155 cases in 2024, including 104 trap cases that led to the seizure of Rs 88.29 lakh in bribe money. A total of 86 individuals, including six gazetted officers, 80 non-gazetted officials, and 31 private individuals, were caught red-handed accepting bribes, according to a government spokesperson. This amounts to an average of seven public servants being arrested on corruption charges each month.

In comparison, the ACB’s performance in 2023 was higher, with 205 cases registered. Of these, 152 were trap cases, resulting in the arrest of 30 gazetted officers, 156 non-gazetted officials, and 40 private individuals. A total of Rs 86.12 lakh in bribe money was seized.

Among the 104 raids conducted last year, 34 targeted the police department, followed by 11 involving power utility officials, nine from the Urban Local Bodies Department, eight from the Excise & Taxation Department, seven from the Revenue Department and six from the Health Department. In 2023, as many as 49 police officials were caught red-handed, along with 21 from the Revenue Department, 10 from power utilities, seven from the Food and Supply Department and six from the Urban Local Bodies Department.

“The Anti-Corruption Bureau is committed to intensifying the drive against corruption and all cases of bribery have been dealt with strictly and more crackdowns will follow in the coming days,” said Alok Mittal, Director General, ACB.