National Capital Delhi Plagued With Corruption, ACB Arrests Officials

Delhi, 9th May 2023: Corruption continues to plague Delhi, with reports of several instances of malpractice and bribery being reported from various parts of the city. Three arrests were made by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) this year – two personnel from the transport department and one from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

The ACB has been investigating corruption cases against public servants and has been granted powers to take action against those found guilty of malpractice. In the last year, the ACB registered several cases against government officials for accepting bribes and engaging in other illegal activities.

Between 2015 and 2022, Delhi saw at least a dozen government employees arrested on corruption-related allegations each year. These numbers were revealed as a result of an RTI request made by “The Indian Express.” In spite of 144 cases having challans or charge sheets filed in court during this time, just 32, or little more than 30%, led to convictions.

Bribery and kickbacks are said to be common practices in the awarding of contracts, with many contractors resorting to illegal means to secure lucrative deals. Recent reports suggest that corruption is rampant in several government departments, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), and Revenue.

The total number of officials from over 20 departments of the Delhi government arrested from 2015 to 2022 stands at 104.

Despite the efforts of the Delhi government, headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, to eradicate corruption, the problem still lingers. The ACB will continue to be instrumental in the battle against corruption in this area. The government must make sure that the ACB has the necessary authority and resources to effectively combat corruption and hold those responsible for malpractice accountable.