Service
Will Teach Citizens How To Mount Sting Operation
New Delhi: Delhiites can now call a
helpline to seek assistance in nabbing a government official or organization
seeking bribes for executing a public work or service in the capital.
Launching the service on Wednesday, chief minister
Arvind Kejriwal described it as a “helpline” to catch bribe-seekers and said it
was not a “complaint number”. The helpline would instruct the caller on how to
conduct a sting operation by secretly recording the demand of the accused (in
audio or video) to create the ‘first evidence’, on the basis of which the
government’s anti-corruption team will lay a trap to catch the offender
red-handed.
Action will be taken within 24 hours of the first
evidence being submitted to
the state vigilance department, Kejriwal said. “This is an advisory number that
will explain to you the way to hold a sting. But you cannot make a complaint on
this number. The number, 011-27357169, will be active from 8am to 10pm,” he
said.
In the next few days, a 4-digit number will be created
for the helpline, making it easier for citizens to remember it. The service has
been set up under the CM’s office and all cases will be passed on to the
vigilance department after proof is submitted.
This is the third major initiative by the AAP
government in 12 days, after subsidized power tariffs and free water up to 700
litres a day.
HOW TO REPORT CORRUPTION
Call anti-corruption helpline:
011-27357169
Trained officials will guide you on how to conduct a sting operation with help
of audio/visual aids
Once you have done so, present evidence to the department Team will act within
24 hours ‘First evidence’ must for ACB team to lay a trap
G C Dwivedi, addition commissioner of police in Delhi government’s
anti-corruption branch, said the service can be used by Delhiites faced with an
illegal demand by a government official or a member of any private organization
involved in public services. This would include all officials of private
schools (aided or unaided) and private hospitals if they seek money to get a
task done. “Even donations or grants given without abill or receipt would
amount to bribe,” Dwivedi added.
Kejriwal said the sting can be a mere audio recording
but ‘first evidence’ is an absolute must for the anti-corruption bureau team to
lay a trap for the accused. “I appeal to the people of Delhi that we need to
eradicate corruption together. If somebody asks you for a bribe, record the
proceedings and bring it to the anti-corruption department,” he said.
He said the department has not come out with any
special plan to protect the complainant, but those who ask for it would be
provided protection under existing rules. “The idea is to create fear among
people involved in corrupt practices. I am confident that once our hoardings,
advertisements and radio jingles giving details will be out, it shall curb the
problem by up to 90 %. People would fear asking for bribe,” the chief minister
added.
Asked if the department was prepared to handle a surge
in complaints, Kejriwal said several police teams have been put on stand by to
tackle the situation. “We have worked on preparing a backend which is why it
took us longer than expected in launching the helpline. We are prepared for a
surge. I know a lot of you (journalists) would make dummy calls tomorrow,”
Kejriwal responded with a grin. Dwivedi too confirmed that he has enough teams
to handle as many complaints that come in.
On how he would tackle cases where officials do not ask
for a bribe but refuse to get a work done, Kejriwal said his government would
soon come out with an effective public grievance system to address the issue of
delay in execution of work.
