Conviction rate in bribery cases increased in 2024: CV Anand
Hyderabad: Outgoing Director-General of the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) C.V. Anand, appointed Hyderabad police chief, said on Sunday that trap cases and conviction rate in bribery cases had increased significantly in 2024.
After taking charge as the ACB chief in January, Anand demitted office on Sunday following his appointment as the Hyderabad city police commissioner on Saturday. He is expected to take charge as the kotwal on Monday.
Speaking informally with mediapersons at the ACB headquarters here, Anand said that during his stint, 94 trap cases were registered so far this year, significantly higher than 61 trap cases registered in 2020, 74 in 2021; 72 in 2022 and 73 cases all of last year.
The conviction rate was also higher at 55.55 per cent when compared to the 50 per cent conviction rate for the entire calendar year 2022 and 69.23 per cent in 2023.
Of the 18 convictions and acquittals in special courts, 10 were convicted implying a conviction rate of 55.55 per cent. He said that the conviction rate could cross 70 per cent in the remaining four months.
Arrests in bribery cases were also higher in 2024 with 109 arrests, which included 85 government employees. There were 110 arrests in 2020; 128 in 2021; 112 in 2022 and 99 in 2023.
Revenue department staff topped the ACB corruption list with 32 trap cases registered against them, followed by the home department at 21, MA&UD at 18 and social welfare department at 15.
Anand stated that the ACB had inquired into 103 cases in 2014 and sent DFR (draft final report) to the state government recommending prosecution of 280 persons. They secured permission to prosecute 165 persons in eight months, he said.
Reflecting on his focus areas, Anand said that he was keen on trapping corrupt government officials and staff and catching them red-handed rather than registering DA (disproportionate cases) as the conviction rate would be higher in trap cases.
He said that ACB is grappling with staff shortage and this issue needs to be addressed on an urgent basis for a more effective functioning of the institution and the drive to check corruption.
Although the sanctioned staff for ACB is 350, presently only 280 are working in the bureau. Similarly, the ACB special courts are also facing staff crunch with only one special court of the three in Hyderabad having a full-time magistrate. The special courts in Karimnagar and Warangal are working with in-charge magistrates, he explained.