12.6% conviction rate in J&K corruption cases over 6 years

A conviction rate of just 12.6 per cent in corruption cases over the last six years has put a spotlight on the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Jammu and Kashmir, which sent 214 cases to various courts in the last six years but could manage only 27 convictions.

According to data provided by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in reply to an RTI query by Jammu-based activist Raman Sharma, in the last six years, the ACB received a massive volume of 23,798 complaints.

However, they led to the registration of only 534 FIRs, representing a complaint-to-FIR conversion rate of just 2.24 per cent. The bureau noted that complaints undergo rigorous scrutiny before they are registered as formal cases.

Data provided by the ACB, covering the period between January 1, 2020, and March 2026, show that out of 214 cases that reached a judicial conclusion, only 27 resulted in convictions.

According to the data, during the period under review, 72 persons were acquitted, 115 cases were not proved, 325 cases were chargesheeted, while 432 cases remained under investigation.

On the enforcement front, the ACB arrested 267 public servants, including 20 gazetted and 247 non-gazetted officers, indicating action across administrative ranks, the RTI reply said.

The bureau also conducted 208 trap cases, recovering more than Rs 1.22 crore in bribe money, the data showed.

Judicial outcomes, however, reflect significant challenges. Of the cases decided, only 27 resulted in convictions, compared to 72 acquittals and 115 cases not proved, the reply said.

The data from various ACB units across J&K showed uneven case registration and outcomes, with several matters still pending at different stages of investigation and trial.

The Srinagar-Budgam-Ganderbal branch of the ACB recorded the highest activity between 2020 and 2026, registering 178 FIRs and arresting 93 officers through 70 trap cases. Of these, 83 cases were chargesheeted, while 129 remain under investigation. Judicial outcomes show that four accused were convicted, 17 acquitted, while 25 were discharged after the charges against them could not be proved.

The Jammu-Samba-Kathua unit recorded the second-highest activity, registering 94 FIRs and arresting 32 officers through 25 trap cases. Of these, 54 cases were chargesheeted, while 82 remain under probe. In terms of judicial outcomes, 15 accused were convicted, 23 acquitted, while 28 cases were not proved.

Sharma said the RTI reply highlighted a significant gap between enforcement action and judicial outcomes in corruption cases. “Overall, the figures present a mixed scenario, where enforcement actions like arrests and trap operations continue, but the conversion of complaints into FIRs and ultimately into convictions remains limited, underscoring systemic challenges in effectively tackling corruption in the UT,” Sharma said.