Some record: Pune reports the highest number of corruption cases in Maharashtra
Nashik comes at number two in the list and Thane recorded the third highest number of cases, according to the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The number of corruption cases recorded in Pune, between January 1 and June 22 this year, is 97, the highest in Maharashtra. With 62 cases reported this year, Nashik comes at number two in the list and Thane recorded the third highest number of cases with 54 cases, according to the monthly number of cases released by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Maharashtra.
When asked about the possible reason for the high number of cases in the city, Prasad Hasabnis, additional superintendent of police, ACB, Pune, said, “The possible reason behind this could be the awareness among people of the city to report cases of corruption. The reach of our officers in the masses residing in the city is much higher than other cities.”
With a steady high since 2014, ACB Maharashtra has registered 415 cases till June 22 this year. The annual number of cases stood at 1,316 in 2014, 1,279 in 2015, and 1,014 in 2016. Between 2010 and 2014, the highest number of cases recorded annually stood at 586, which was recorded in 2013.
ACB divides the type of cases into three categories, namely trap, disproportionate assets and other corrupt practices. The number of cases recorded as a result of a trap set by ACB is observed to be the highest across the state and its cities.
Of the 415 cases, 395 were recorded under trap, 14 under other corrupt practices, and six were recorded under cases of disproportionate assets, in the state. In Pune, there were no recorded cases of corruption through disproportionate assets while 94 cases were recorded through the ACB trap. Other corrupt practices recorded by ACB stood at three. In Mumbai, as against Pune, the number of cases through trap were 13 while three cases of disproportionate assets were recorded and one case of other corrupt practices.
The revenue department in the state has had the highest amount of money recovered through traps. “With increased interaction with public, the possibility of officials indulging in bribery also increases. The revenue department is in constant touch with the common citizens through places like village accountant (talathi),” points out additional superintendent of police, Hasabnis.
The recovery from the revenue department stands at ?23,41,300 followed by ?21,85,400 from municipal corporations and ?12,69,100 from the tribal development, according to the data released by ACB.