Police’s anti-corruption helplines get 23,000 complaints in a month

According to police sources, the vigilance department has received 23,000 complaints on its new anti-corruption helpline numbers — 1064 and 9910641064, a WhatsApp helpline — between 6 August  and 12 September.

‘The cases that relate to corrupt policemen will be handled by the vigilance team while other complaints will be handed over to the concerned departments,’ the official sources said.

Deputy commissioner of police (Vigilance) Sindhu Pillai said, ‘A total of nine policemen of the rank of constable to sub-inspector and a home guard have been booked in six cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act between 6 August  and 12 September.

The helplines, launched by the vigilance department on 6 August to take action against corrupt policemen, on an average receive 600 complaints a day.

The WhatsApp helpline received 20,698 messages till 6 September.

Only five percent of these complaints are related to corruption in Delhi Police while others are related to different government departments, the source said.

‘About half of the total complaints received on 1064 and 9910641064 were related to alleged inaction by officials across government departments. We inform the authorities concerned if the complaints have merit,’ a vigilance department official said on condition of anonymity.

Initially as many as 2,300 complaints were received each day, especially as many people were trying to see if the numbers were operational.

The landline number 1064 at present has four lines attended by at least 20 constables and head constables who work round the clock under the guidance of an inspector, while 9910641064 is handled under the guidance of senior vigilance officers.