*Major Step by Anti-Corruption Bureau Against Corruption: Officials Caught Taking Bribes Will Not Be Reposted in the Same District: SV & ACB Chief Dr. Arshinder Singh Chawla*

- *Strict Action by SV & ACB Against Corruption in 2026: 138 Successful Trap Operations, 23 Officials/Employees and 3 Private Persons Convicted, List of 190 Corrupt Employees Prepared*
- *Along with Action Against Corruption, Special Focus on Protecting Complainants’ Interests and Follow-up of Complaints*

*Chandigarh, September 18.* In a significant initiative aimed at making the ongoing campaign against corruption in Haryana more effective, the State Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has taken an important step. ACB Chief Dr. Arshinder Singh Chawla said that letters have been sent to all concerned government departments regarding not giving postings in the same district in future to officials and employees caught red-handed while accepting bribes. The decision was taken after deliberations in the ACB’s High-Power Committee and will be implemented shortly.

Shri Chawla said that in several cases, it had been observed that after action was taken against an official or employee in a corruption case, the person was subsequently reposted in the same district after some time. This could adversely affect the objective of action against corruption and public confidence in the system. Taking the matter seriously, the issue was discussed in the ACB’s High-Power Committee and a proposal for necessary action was placed before the government. Letters have now been sent to all government departments, asking them to take necessary action to avoid reposting such officials and employees in the same district.

- *138 Successful Trap Operations So Far in 2026*

The ACB Chief said that 138 successful trap operations have been conducted so far in 2026, in which government officials and employees were caught red-handed while accepting bribes. He said that these actions indicate that the general public is now coming forward to lodge complaints against corruption and that their confidence in the ACB’s action mechanism is strengthening. He said that if government holidays are excluded, on average, approximately one government official or employee has been caught red-handed accepting a bribe every second day. He clarified that this figure is not merely a count of enforcement actions, but also reflects the fact that people are coming forward to report corruption.

- *23 Officials and Employees Awarded Rigorous Punishment in 21 Cases*

The ACB Chief said that from January 1, 2026, till date, 23 officials and employees have been awarded rigorous punishment by various courts in 21 cases. He said that action in corruption cases does not remain limited to arrests, but the ACB is also giving special attention to effectively pursuing cases and ensuring that those found guilty are convicted by the courts. He said that the punishments awarded by the courts send a clear message that action in corruption cases is not limited to immediate arrests, but effective prosecution and follow-up are ensured till the final stage of the legal process.

- *List of 190 Corrupt Officials and Employees Prepared*

Shri Chawla said that the ACB has prepared a list of 190 officials and employees in the state against whom repeated complaints or inputs related to corruption have been received. Available information regarding these officials and employees is being analysed, and necessary action is being taken to catch them red-handed while accepting bribes. He said that the objective of the ACB is not merely to take action after receiving a complaint, but also to identify potential sources of corruption through analysis of available information and complaints and take effective action accordingly.

- *Targeted Action Being Taken After Identifying Corruption Hotspots*

Shri Chawla said that complaints received from various departments are being continuously analysed by the ACB. The objective is to identify the departments, offices and areas from where a higher number of corruption-related complaints are being received and which areas are emerging as corruption hotspots. There are seven police stations of the ACB in Haryana. Information and complaints received at these police stations are analysed to identify the problems faced by citizens in government offices. Based on this analysis, coordination is being carried out with the concerned departments not only for taking action but also for bringing about systemic improvements.

- *Winning Public Trust is the ACB’s Top Priority*

Shri Chawla said that merely taking action against corruption is not enough; winning and maintaining the trust of the general public is equally important. When citizens are confident that their complaints will be acted upon fairly and effectively, and that their legitimate work will not be affected because they have lodged a complaint, they are more likely to come forward against corruption. He said that every complaint received by the ACB is taken seriously. Even after action is taken on a complaint, its follow-up is closely monitored so that the legitimate work of the complainant does not remain unnecessarily pending and the complainant does not face any kind of inconvenience.

- *Revolving Fund for Reimbursement of Money Used by Complainants*

The ACB Chief said that the government has made arrangements for a revolving fund in connection with the amount provided or used by complainants during trap operations. A notification has been issued to simplify the procedure compared to the earlier system. Under the prescribed procedure, the complainant is required to submit an affidavit before the court stating that, upon final disposal of the case, the concerned amount will be deposited back into the government account. This arrangement will help reduce the financial burden on persons reporting corruption and enable them to lodge complaints against corruption without any additional financial concern.

- *Complete Confidentiality of Complainants’ Identity*

Shri Chawla said that protecting the identity of persons who report corruption is given special priority. He said that even when a person does not wish to make their identity public, they can be suitably recognised while maintaining confidentiality of their identity, and cash rewards are also provided. He said that a citizen coming forward to report corruption is important, and encouraging such complainants will also motivate others to raise their voice against corruption.

- *Mobile App Trial Underway to Make Complaint Process Easier*

The ACB is conducting a trial of a mobile application aimed at making the process of filing complaints simpler and more accessible for citizens. Shri Chawla said that people often do not remember the ACB helpline number. The proposed mobile application will have a facility through which citizens will be able to connect directly to the helpline with a single touch. In addition, OTP-based facilities and other security features are being incorporated to ensure the safety of the complainant’s identity. He said that if a person travels outside their district and faces a corruption-related issue there, they should also be able to easily communicate the information to the ACB. The complaint system is therefore being made more convenient and technology-driven.

- *Action Against Corruption Will Continue*

The ACB Chief said that the fight against corruption is a continuous process. Action against corruption, protection of complainants, follow-up of cases, securing convictions, identification of hotspots, and simplifying the complaint system through technology—all these aspects are being addressed simultaneously. He said that the ACB’s action against corruption will continue with full determination and that strict action as per rules will be taken against officials and employees found involved in corrupt practices. He also appealed to the general public that if any government official or employee demands a bribe, they should inform the ACB without fear.