Kejriwal's new anti-corruption helpline narrowly misses its first target, a policeman

The seeds of anti-corruption sowed by the state government almost bore fruit after a Delhi Police constable, who was to be trapped, identified sleuths of the anti corruption bureau (ACB) from their shoes and refused to take money at the last moment.

The seeds of anti-corruption sowed by the state government almost bore fruit after a Delhi Police constable, who was to be trapped, identified sleuths of the anti corruption bureau (ACB) from their shoes and refused to take money at the last moment.

HT Image

This operation was the first to be conducted by the ACB following the launch of the Delhi government helpline.

Though the ACB has registered a case but lack of evidence has delayed the arrest. “The head constable had taken Rs. 18,000 from me for allowing construction of my two-storey house in Wazirpur. I conducted the sting operation in December as I had heard that AAP will launch an anti-corruption helpline. On Thursday morning at 9 am, I called on the helpline and submitted the clip,” said the caller, a resident of north Delhi’s Wazirpur area.

“We were carrying five notes of Rs. 1000 with powder between the notes to catch him red-handed. At the last moment, the constable refused and started to run away,” an ACB official said.

“I have paid `30 lakh as bribe over a period of time to this department. Finally someone has agreed to act against corrupt,” said the man, who trapped the sub registrar.

Meanwhile, the anti-corruption helpline remained busy — mostly by callers giving suggestions, random information on corruption and sharing grievances. Due to the heavy flow of calls less, than 25% of the callers were entertained.

Including the 11,829 calls on Thursday, the helpline has received nearly 25,000 calls in two days but only 5,000 could be attended.