Corrupt officials in Gujarat accept bribes in EMIs to 'reduce burden' on victims: Report

According to a senior ACB official, corrupt officials try and take advantage of people who have either been approached by the police over a crime or those who wish to make use of government welfare schemes. (Representational image)

Corrupt officials in Gujarat have now resorted to accepting bribes in installments to "reduce" burden on victims and to not lose an opportunity to make some extra money, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials told the Times of India, adding that 10 such cases have been registered this year.

In one incident, on April 4, a deputy sarpanch and taluka panchayat member in Surat demanded Rs 85,000 bribe for getting a villager’s farm levelled. But since the man could not afford to pay the hefty amount immediately, the officials asked him to pay Rs 35,000 upfront and the rest in three equal installments, the publication reported. In the second case, a cybercrime police official split the Rs 10 lakh he had demanded as bribe into four installments for the victim to pay.

In a case reported on April 26, a CID inspector demanded Rs 50,000 bribe to release items such as laptops and computers seized in connection with a crime in five installments of Rs 10,000 each.

“A person unable to afford to buy a house, car or a valuable by making full payments avails a loan on EMIs. Corrupt officials are applying the same practice to bribes now,” a senior ACB officer told the Times of India.

He added that corrupt officials try and take advantage of people who have either been approached by the police over a crime or those who wish to make use of government welfare schemes. Since most of such people are poor, the officials -- not wanting to let go of an opportunity to earn extra money -- offer to accept bribes in installments.

Director, ACB, Gujarat and DGP (law and order) Shamsher Singh said, "The ACB has been able to report only those cases wherein people have approached us after paying the initial installments."