Hyderabad: Cops seek bribe for passport, says Survey

Hyderabad: In a three-week period from August 31, 72 passport enquiry officers in Hyderabad had demanded money from applicants, according to a survey by the IT cell of the Hyderabad police. The demands ranged from Rs 100 to more than Rs 1,000.  Seven officers, who demanded more than Rs 1,000, have been attached to the CAR headquarters for disciplinary action. 

 

Of the 4,365 applicants who gave feedback, 440 said they gave money voluntarily. On the positive side, the verification process has come down to just six days in 2015 from an average of 60 days in 2012.

 

Hyderabad Police conducts verification of nearly 10,000 applicants every month; 4,365 applicants were interviewed for the period from August 31 to September 26. The parameters treated as negative feedback included demanding money during verification, rude or impolite behaviour by cops during verification, cops not making a call before visiting the applicant for verification, cops making a call just an hour before visiting the applicant’s house, or delay in reaching the location.

 

“Out of the persons interviewed, 966 applicants gave negative feedback; 72 said that they were asked for money and 440 said that they themselves gave money voluntarily,” said city’s additional commissioner (special branch), Mr Y. Nagi Reddy. Also, 137 applicants (3.1 per cent) said that the enquiry officer did not make a call before visiting and 301 (6.8 per cent) stated that the officer made a call just an hour before their visit; 16 (0.3 per cent) people said the officer behaved rudely during the verification process.

 

In December, the demanded money ranged from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000, but this has gradually come down and the average verification time has also come down to six days, while the target is to complete the process in seven days.  “Corruption in passport verification has come down drastically, as there is no corruption in verification of 98.4 per cent applications. Any officer who is found repeatedly violating the guidelines will be suspended,” he added.