1.25-L calls made to anti-graft helpline in one month

The Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption helpline has received over 1.25 lakh calls within a month of its launch and 25 erring officials have been arrested, the government said on Wednesday.

“The 1031 anti-corruption helpline has got an overwhelming response with 1,25,065 calls received in the first 30 days,” a government statement said.

As per data, 252 complaints were marked to the Delhi Police Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) for investigation, while 238 were not found fit to be referred to the ACB.

Twenty-five people have been arrested so far by the ACB in different cases of corruption involving public servants, while 79 complaints were pending for scrutiny and another 169 were being followed up. Seven complaints have been disposed off.

The helpline was first introduced during Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) 49-day stint in government after the 2013 Assembly polls, but was later discontinued. Reviving the helpline had been one of the major poll promises of AAP this year.

“Executives of the helpline answered 1,10,380 calls in the last one month. Of these, 510 complaints were marked to trained and authorised facilitators,” the official said.

Of these 510 complaints, 252 were found to be fit for referral to the Anti-Corruption Branch, the official added.

At present, there are 79 calls which are pending scrutiny by ACB while 169 are being followed up. Seven cases have been disposed off and 25 cases were registered.

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Also, 6,000 calls were such that the complaints looked credible but the complainant could not provide proof and the cases were put under surveillance,” the official said.

The helpline can be used by the public to lodge complaints in case they are harassed for bribes by government officials.

The official said that the helpline also received many calls which did not pertain to corruption but were related to local grievances.

After scanning the calls, it was found that the highest number of complaints of corruption had come against officials of civic bodies, police, transport and Jal Board.

The official said that the government is trying to ensure that no call made on the helpline goes unanswered. 

The Anti-Corruption Branch of Delhi government arrested three people, including a government employee, for taking bribes from truck drivers at Azadpur market.

In another case, an FIR was filed against five government teachers for allegedly allowing students to cheat in class 12 exams in exchange for a bribe.

The anti-graft helpline also led to the arrest of a Delhi Police head constable for allegedly accepting a bribe in the Sonia Vihar area of North-East Delhi.

Also, an FIR was registered against a Delhi Police woman inspector for demanding a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a widow after threatening to implicate her in her husband’s murder.