Hyderabad: The conviction rate in corruption cases handled by the Anti Corruption Bureau was only 42 per cent in 2013 while for the Central Bureau of Investigation, it was around 72 per cent.
In departmental inquiries and tribunal proceedings against corrupt officials, the punishment rate was 57 per cent.
ACB completes 52 years of existence on January 2.
According to the Bureau, the government dismissed 45 accused officers based on convictions by trial courts and recommendations of tribunals for disciplinary proceedings.
However, there has been a big increase in the number of total cases taken up by ACB. The number of corruption cases went up to 468 in 2013 against 184 in 2012. Entrapment cases went up to 341 by the end of the year.
ACB director general A.K. Khan said, “The bureau has been able to secure convictions in a large number of cases in all special courts for ACB cases. Last year, 41 of 97 cases ended up in convictions. Steps are being initiated to improve the percentage of convictions.”
“The Bureau conducted simultaneous surprise checks on transport and integrated check-posts and seized huge amounts from private individuals engaged by the check-post staff. But the staff did not stop their illegal activities and the bureau again conducted surprise checks on the same posts within a week. Various irregularities committed by the check-post officials have come to our notice. Stern action will be initiated against the erring officials to curb the illegal practices in these departments.”
Khan said a public awareness campaign by exhibiting short films and slides in theatres was on. “To improve the investigation skills of officers and to give them professional knowledge of latest technical gadgets and procedures, special training courses have been started recently.
The training programme for chief vigilance officers and vigilance officers will be started shortly in January.
A team of officers headed by DIG was deputed to the CBI academy for designing various training courses on technical gadgets and as well as probe procedures,” said Khan.
He added the bureau would keep a close watch on activities of employees in all government departments and would not spare corrupt staffers irrespective of their ranking.
