Pune: Demonetisation, an increase in conviction rate, a higher standard for investigations and massive awareness on corruption were among the many reasons credited with a dip in graft in the city in 2016.
From 217 cases in 2015, the number of corruption cases involving public servants came down to 186 last year, according to the Pune branch of the anti-corruption department (ACB), which has jurisdiction over five districts — Pune, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur and Satara.
"The registration of corruption cases came down in 2016 after demonetisation. We have conducted many awareness programmes, encouraging people to report public servants demanding bribes. Transparency has increased in governmental departments and employees don't dare demand bribes openly, fearing that their voice will be recorded," an ACB official said.
"We have taken action against government employees who sought bribes through proxies. People visiting government offices have been given the freedom to approach superiors for complaints against subordinates, if the latter take an inordinate amount of time in acting on complaints," the officer added.
"The ACB, in most cases, are obtaining police custody remand of the accused. Earlier, the accused would get bail after s/he was produced before the court. The quality of investigations has (also) improved. In two cases, we had seen that a public servant had sought bribe in kind, and not in cash," said Pratap Pardeshi, a lawyer.
"Public servants are reluctant to demand bribes as the ACB has started recording conversations. They are filing a voice expert's report as a part of evidence to seek conviction. CCTV cameras too act as a deterrent," said Sudhir Shah, another lawyer.
"The investigation officers have been trained in collecting evidence, and file watertight charge sheets. The increase in conviction rate, demonetisation and awareness on law and other reasons are why the number of corruption cases has decreased," Shah added.
From 217 cases in 2015, the number of corruption cases involving public servants came down to 186 last year, according to the Pune branch of the anti-corruption department (ACB), which has jurisdiction over five districts — Pune, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur and Satara.
"The registration of corruption cases came down in 2016 after demonetisation. We have conducted many awareness programmes, encouraging people to report public servants demanding bribes. Transparency has increased in governmental departments and employees don't dare demand bribes openly, fearing that their voice will be recorded," an ACB official said.
"We have taken action against government employees who sought bribes through proxies. People visiting government offices have been given the freedom to approach superiors for complaints against subordinates, if the latter take an inordinate amount of time in acting on complaints," the officer added.
"The ACB, in most cases, are obtaining police custody remand of the accused. Earlier, the accused would get bail after s/he was produced before the court. The quality of investigations has (also) improved. In two cases, we had seen that a public servant had sought bribe in kind, and not in cash," said Pratap Pardeshi, a lawyer.
"Public servants are reluctant to demand bribes as the ACB has started recording conversations. They are filing a voice expert's report as a part of evidence to seek conviction. CCTV cameras too act as a deterrent," said Sudhir Shah, another lawyer.
"The investigation officers have been trained in collecting evidence, and file watertight charge sheets. The increase in conviction rate, demonetisation and awareness on law and other reasons are why the number of corruption cases has decreased," Shah added.
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