Guards, repairmen, a Rs-10 bribe are part of Delhi’s ‘war on corrupt officers’

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In response to a Right to Information application, the Delhi Anti Corruption Branch said that until July 1, 2015, 41 arrests had been made since the Arvind Kejriwal government took charge on February 14.

“41 officials/private persons have been arrested from 15.02.2015 to 01.07.2015. All cases are pending investigation. So, information cannot be provided at this stage,” the ACB stated in its reply.

The Indian Express found that all 41 arrests were made on the basis of 13 cases — some after calls to the ACB hotline 1031 and others after raids or tip offs — and 37 were held before May 8, 2015.

Watch video: Express Investigation: How Fresh Details of AAP Government’s Anti Corruption Arrests Raise Questions (app users click here)

Of the 41 mentioned in the RTI reply, 13 arrests made by the ACB were of private citizens, not linked to the government — liquor vend owners, attorney holders, private security guards and contract teachers.

Asked about the hoardings on the arrest of 35 officers, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said there was nothing wrong with the government advertisements. “Our stand on corruption is very clear. Action should and will be taken against whosoever is involved in corruption,” he said.

This is the break-up: 15 government junior officials, six beldars, 13 private persons, three school principals, one contract teacher, two security guards and a police head constable.

These are the cases against them:

1. Three security guards at the Azadpur Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC)
What the FIR says: Allegedly indulged in corruption of Rs 10. The three were arrested after a sting operation on one of three recorded the Rs 10 bribe to let a vehicle carrying fruits and vegetable enter the mandi (APMC). The complainant approached the ACB and a team was dispatched to arrest the accused. On April 17, a raid was conducted and a trap laid for the guard who took Rs 10 to let the vehicle enter. When questioned, he named two others.

2. Four employees of the Delhi Jal Board. They are beldars or Class IV employee who do odd jobs. Arrested on May 7 and May 8, 2015 in a case registered in December 2013.
What the FIR says: The DJB employees were demanding bribes to clear tanker bills. In an FIR, the complainant said he recorded the exchange of Rs 2,000 and demands for more. “I shot the video and handed it over to the DJB JE (junior engineer) but no action was taken,” the complainant stated. The arrests were made by the ACB.

3. An assistant engineer, a junior engineer and a beldar of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation. Arrests made on June 6, 2015.
What the FIR says: They have been arrested on the charge of not taking action against illegal construction in Janata Flats in Rohini sectors 15 and 16. The arrested employees are posted with the Rohini zone of North MCD. FIR registered regarding abuse of power by government officials in connivance with builders, private builders and private persons.

4. A mate-cum-beldar in the Public Works Department (PWD). Arrested on February 14, 2015, the day the AAP government came to power.
What the FIR says: The charge against him was that he was caught red-handed accepting Rs 1,000. The complainant alleged that the accused took money to ensure that no demolition will be done at his house.

5. Contract teacher and principal of a government school on President Estate.
Government statement: The principal and guest teacher have been arrested for allegedly embezzling government funds. The arrests were made on the directions of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who carried out an inspection of the school. The principal was suspended.

6. Principal and three private individuals. Principal was employed at a school in Shakti Nagar. Was on extension after retirement.
What the FIR says: Arrested on April 23, 2015. Three private people were arrested in the same case on April 21, 2015. All four have been booked for taking a bribe of Rs 1,000 together… In a raid, the ACB found that some teachers were carrying chits in their pockets which they were giving to students in return for money. ACB acted after getting a complaint on the anti-corruption helpline 1031.

7. Principal of a government school in Nithari near Sultanpuri. Arrested on March 30, 2015.
Government statement: The charge against the principal was of financial embezzlement of government funds to the tune of Rs 27,35,870.

8. Police head constable.
Government statement: On May 2, a head constable from Sonia Vihar police station in Northeast Delhi was arrested by the ACB. The arrest came after a scrap dealer filed a complaint on the anti-corruption helpline 1031 that the policeman had been demanding Rs 20,000 as bribe and threatening to implicate him in false cases.
Background: Following the arrest, the head constable’s wife filed an FIR of kidnapping, prompting the police to send a notice to the ACB to join investigation. The ACB sent a counter-notice to the police, asking the SHO of the Sonia Vihar police station to join investigation. The ACB registered a case of criminal conspiracy including charges under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

9. Revenue department sub-registrar. Arrested on June 4, 2015.
Government statement: A sub-registrar was arrested on Friday by the ACB for reportedly misusing his official powers and “rendering illegal benefits” to those who were transferring properties. The accused, a sub-registrar of Narela, was arrested after the ACB received information on how the Delhi Land Reform Act was being violated while granting no-objection certificates (NOCs) for sale deeds and sale of agricultural land in villages.

10. Executive and assistant engineer, MCD. Arrested on April 28, 2015.
Government statement: The ACB has arrested a retired executive engineer and an assistant engineer for their alleged involvement in the ghost muster roll employee scam. The accused were involved in fake muster rolls of the South Zone MCD, pertaining to clearing of silt in drain. A sum of Rs 12,99,515 was to be paid to 745 beldars who did not exist.

11. Engineer with the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited ( DSIIDC). Arrested on May 27, 2015.
Government statement: An FIR has been lodged by ACB against the DSIIDC engineer for corruption. A written complaint was received against the engineer, posted at the Lajpat Nagar DSIIDC office, for awarding tenders to unqualified firms in exchange for bribes.

12. Delhi Jal Board chief engineer, executive engineer, assistant engineer, assistant engineer and junior engineer.
Government statement: They were arrested by the ACB after allegations that they embezzled government funds to the tune of Rs 20 lakh in the name of contractors.

13. Two excise inspectors, two excise constables. Arrested between February 15 and May 29, 2015. The ACB also made nine non-government arrests.
Government statement: ACB recently received information regarding huge loss being caused to the exchequer due to evasion of excise duty and VAT in the supply and sale of IMFL and foreign liquor because of collusion between distillers, owners/managers of bonded warehouses (L-I), attorney holders/owners of liquor vends with active connivance of Excise Department officials.