‘We can’t do much if people settle matters on their own’

We do as much as possible. We encourage people to report matters and conduct raids whenever required.

Sheel Madhur
IG, Vigilance, Gurgaon
Has the department been able to keep constant tabs on rampant corruption in local government offices?

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We do as much as possible. We encourage people to report matters and conduct raids whenever required.

Going by the number of raids that you have conducted this year (a mere 37) compared to the increasing number of corruption cases reported, it seems a lot more needs to be done.

We can't do much if people settle matters on their own in order to avoid the existing system. Every time we have a tip off, we go all the way to nab the culprit.

Data shows that a very few senior ranked officials face raids (only 7 this year and only 2 last year) whereas it's quite understood that junior officials can't indulge in wrong practices without the senior's connivance. Does it not reflect on the vigilance department's inability to go after big fishes?
That's not the case at all. I am not denying that seniors could not be involved but people mostly deal with lower rank officials. Hence, the complaints filed are against them. We have to nab people against whom complaints are registered, be it senior or junior. After that, the law takes its own course.