Delhi government asks investigating agency not to reveal names of corrupt officials it arrests; threatens disciplinary action if order is disobeyed
Delhi government asks investigating agency not to reveal names of corrupt officials it arrests; threatens disciplinary action if order is disobeyed
The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi Government has been gagged. The department, which has exposed many senior corrupt officials, has been ordered by the Delhi government to refrain from making public details of investigations conducted by it.
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Illustration by: Satish Acharya |
Decoded, the order means that tainted officials like Crime Branch inspector KG Tyagi, who was arrested in October last year for allegedly extorting money from a businessman held in a murder case, will not be exposed in public.
And if the ACB fails to comply, disciplinary action may be taken against its officers.
The circular
(a copy of which is with the MiD DAY) was sent out by the additional secretary (Vigilance), Delhi Government. It instructs the ACB not to reveal to the media or the public names or designations of officials it arrests. The department has also been ordered not to hand over to the media audio or video records of its investigative stings.
"Frequent interaction with the media should be avoided," reads the order. It adds that if press conferences about cases have to be organised, ACB officials should reveal only the department of the accused official.
"The ACB has been censored. We arrest people after conducting stings and laying traps. If we do not reveal the name of the accused to the society, how will corruption stop? If people see a policeman or a senior government official indulging in corrupt practices on camera, they will fear the law," said an ACB official, wishing anonymity.
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Clipped: The Anti-Corruption Branch office in Delhi
Pic/MiD DAY |
"Only the fear of being exposed in public can check corruption. If the ACB is banned from revealing names of the accused, will it stop corruption? The media helps us expose these corrupt practices and officials," said the ACB official.
The order has ruffled feathers in the ACB and officers fear that it has been triggered by the recent arrests of a few senior government officials made by the department.
"The ACB had successfully arrested a few corrupt government officials and revealed their identities to the public through the media. We have been conducting stings for the last several months and many other officials are on our radar. Maybe this threatened certain sections of the government and hence, this ban," said another ACB official, requesting not to be named.
MiD DAY tried to talk to N Dilip Kumar, additional commissioner, Anti-Corruption Branch, but he refused to comment. However, Chief Secretary, Delhi Government, Rakesh Mehta said the order was aimed at restraining the efforts of the ACB to gain publicity. "Officers conduct press conferences and reveal details of investigations to be portrayed as heroes. This is not legal. We have taken this step to stop these publicity stunts," said Mehta.
He added, "Naming someone as an accused without completing the inquiry can hamper the reputation of the person. They can reveal details after the charges against the person have been proved."
| What the order says |
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'u00a0'Publicity about sting operations shall not be made. However, result of successful sting operations revealing substantial seizures and successful trap may be publicised with prior approval.'
' 'No audio/video recordings of traps, seizures, arrests etc in soft copy or electronic or transcripted form shall be publicised.'
' 'As far as possible only designation and department of the accused/delinquent public servants shall be provided to the media. Details about the name and personal details may be avoided. However details of substantial seizures may be avoided.'
' 'All instances of interaction with media shall be conveyed to the Principal Secretary (Vigilance), Director (Vigilance) in the form of a report.'
' 'If any public servant who is not an employee of GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi) is involved in a trap, details about him should be released only in consultation with the with the concerned ministry/department.' |
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| ACB got these men |
'u00a0March 2009: The ACB arrested a senior official of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on charges of having demanded Rs 2 crore from a south Delhi based businessman in a land-desealing case.
' October 2008: The ACB arrested 12 officials of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) for allegedly trying to extort money from flower sellers at Connaught place.
' In 2008, the ACB registered 42 cases involving various government employees and private individuals. While 20 Delhi Police officers and personnel were arrested for allegedly demanding bribes and extorting money, 16 employees of the MCD were arrested on various counts. |
