Younger citizens reporting most cases of corruption, says ACB

As the number of corruption cases in Maharashtra rose substantially in 2014 compared to the preceding year, an analysis conducted by the ACB has revealed that young citizens were at the forefront when it came to reporting corruption in the state.

As the number of corruption cases in Maharashtra rose substantially in 2014 compared to the preceding year, an analysis conducted by the anti corruption bureau (ACB) has revealed that young citizens were at the forefront when it came to reporting corruption in the state.

In 2014, the ACB registered 1,245 trap cases across the state in their ranges of Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Amravati, Aurangabad and Nanded. According to the analysis, 34% complainants (426) were in the 26-35 age group, 31% (384) were in the 36-45 age group, 21% (267) were between 46 and 60 years of age, while 10% (118) were 25 years and below. Only 4% complainants (50) were above 60 years of age.

The complainants included 32 women, 13 disabled people, 99 people from scheduled castes, and 22 people from scheduled tribes.

“The young are more idealistic and are intolerant of corruption,” said Praveen Dixit, director general of police, ACB. In order to encourage tech-savvy people to come forward, the ACB has started a page on a social networking site.

“The awareness among the young has increased and they are more alert and aware. I appeal to them to report government servants seeking bribes, by using our online procedures,” said Dixit.

Efforts have been made to ensure complaints reach the ACB online. The anti-graft body has made a provision on its website http://acbmaharashtra.gov.in for complainants to report cases of government servants asking for bribes.

The website also accepts complaints pertaining to disproportionate assets of government servants. Based on the nature of the complaint, ACB approaches the complainant, and takes further action.

Last year, Mumbai registered the lowest number of corruption cases in the state, with only 91 cases being registered.

The Pune range, on the other hand, saw as many as 226 cases being registered in the same period, while the Nashik range saw 216.