VB conducted 170 raids, made 220 arrests in 2022

The VB chief said the bureau shifted its focus from junior-level staff, including clerks, patwaris, linemen, police personnel etc. to senior ranks, who are “often the kingpins in running organised corruption rackets.”

: The Haryana State Vigilance Bureau (VB) arrested 193 government officials, including 27 gazetted, and 27 private individuals during the 170 raids conducted in 2022, leading to a recovery of ₹ 6.21 crore.

VB conducted 170 raids, made 220 arrests in 2022

The bureau registered 246 cases (including 170 traps) in 2022, the highest in the last 10 years.

“In line with the zero-tolerance policy of the state government, the VB has registered a record number of cases related to graft last year which helped the state government put a check on the corrupt practices in the government offices,” Shatrujeet Kapur, VB director general (DG) said in a news conference.

The VB chief said the bureau shifted its focus from junior-level staff, including clerks, patwaris, linemen, police personnel etc. to senior ranks, who are “often the kingpins in running organised corruption rackets.”

He said the spurt in the number of raids and arrests of senior government officials is an act of clean-up by the bureau. He said chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has approved various initiatives of the VB like setting up of a revolving fund to provide ‘trap money’ to the aggrieved people lodging complaints against government officials demanding bribe.

The government has also sanctioned 809 additional posts for strengthening of the VB, changed the system of appointment of independent witnesses to check leakage of information, created six divisional vigilance bureaus, besides ₹100 crore have been allocated to strengthen vigilance related initiatives in Haryana for the year 2023-2024.

Highlighting the arrests of some high-ranking officials, he informed that one district town planner was caught red-handed taking ₹5 lakh bribe and co-accused tehsildar was also arrested, while a deputy excise and taxation commissioner was caught red-handed taking ₹50,000 as bribe and a jail superintendent was also arrested in a trap case.

“Apart from these, five HCS officers were arrested during the year on corruption charges. Further, two chief engineers, one superintending engineer and one executive engineer, a chief accounts officer and one joint director of the urban local bodies department have been arrested for siphoning off public funds,” the VB chief said.

He said the Bureau is also collecting data based on a feedback system of whistle-blowers, aggrieved persons and sources in various departments, institutions and offices across the state. This helps the Bureau officials in laying traps and nabbing those who are demanding and accepting bribes, Kapur said.

In a new initiative, the complainants have been honoured with ‘Samman Patras’ who played a proactive role in realising the state government’s drive to make Haryana corruption free.

In 2022, the bureau also registered 65 enquiries against 22 gazetted officers, 23 non-gazetted officials and 12 private persons on the direction of the state government and 90 enquiries were finalised.

He said out of 90 enquiries completed during 2022, the bureau has recommended registration of criminal case against 27 gazetted officers, 32 non-gazetted officials and 23 private persons.

During the year, 19 technical reports have been sent to the government in which, the bureau has recommended departmental action against 28 gazetted officers, 13 non-gazetted officers and to recover ₹73 lakh from the concerned agency and in one work, the bureau has recommended departmental action alongwith registration of criminal case against 3 gazetted officers, 2 non-gazetted officers.