Richest City, just 39 ACB traps: What explains Mumbai’s surprisingly low corruption cases?
A recent controversial trap laid by the Maharashtra's Anti-Corruption Bureau in Mantralaya put Mumbai’s corridors of power under the spotlight. But ACB data reviewed by The Indian Express reveals a sharp contrast.
While a recent trap inside Mantralaya thrust the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) into the spotlight, data reviewed by this newspaper reveals a striking contrast. Mumbai, the state’s financial and administrative hub, recorded the fewest ACB trap cases in Maharashtra in 2025, despite being home to some of the largest public budgets and costliest real estate in the state.
The spotlight intensified on February 12, when the ACB laid a trap inside Mantralaya and arrested a clerk from a cabinet minister’s office for allegedly accepting Rs 35,000 in bribe money. The arrest led to political reactions and administrative action against the staffer.
Yet official data tells a different story. According to figures seen by The Indian Express, 669 trap cases were registered across Maharashtra in 2025, resulting in 989 arrests. The Mumbai division accounted for just 39 cases and 63 accused, which is roughly just 6 per cent of the total. Trap cases refer to sting operations in which officials are caught red-handed accepting bribes after a complaint is verified by the ACB.
In contrast, the Nashik division topped the list with 138 trap cases and 210 arrests, followed by Pune with 121 cases and 176 arrests. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar recorded 109 cases with 160 accused, while Thane reported 82 cases and 124 arrests. Even smaller regions such as Amravati and Nanded reported more traps than Mumbai (see box).
Senior ACB officials said the low numbers do not reflect lower corruption in the city but instead point to significant underreporting.
The data also shows a structural decline in trap cases since the pandemic. Before Covid, the ACB registered 891 trap cases in 2018 and 866 in 2019. The number fell sharply to 630 in 2020 and has since remained in the 600–700 range, with 669 cases recorded in 2025. Disproportionate assets cases and other corruption categories have also fluctuated but remain relatively low compared to pre-pandemic figures.
Officials attribute part of the decline to digitisation of government services and improved surveillance systems. However, several serving and retired officers said the numbers do not necessarily reflect lower corruption.
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A senior IPS officer said the data does not represent the actual corruption situation in Mumbai. “It does not mean there is less corruption in the richest city of the country. People here prefer to pay and move on. Time is money,” the officer said.
Retired ACB officials pointed to procedural barriers that discourage complainants. Laying a trap requires verification of the complaint, coordination with government panch witnesses and strict documentation. In large agencies such as MHADA, MMRDA and sections of the BMC, entry protocols and visitor logs make covert operations more difficult.
“There are practical hurdles. The ACB office is not easily accessible. Travel costs, legal procedures and time taken can exceed the bribe amount itself. Many people simply do not pursue complaints,” said a retired deputy superintendent of police.
Officials said complainants in tier-two cities and rural areas may be more willing to resist bribe demands and approach the ACB.
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The revenue department saw the highest number of statewide trap operations in 2025 with 186 cases, followed by the Maharashtra police with 120.
Manish Kumar Pathak is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates substantial Expertise and Authority across the complex field of crime reporting, with a strong focus on law enforcement actions, fraud, and cyber security challenges facing the metropolitan region.
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Manish Kumar Pathak's consistent focus on crime, fraud, and the workings of the Mumbai police system establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for critical news in Western India. ... Read More
Corruption cases in Maharashtra