Anti-Corruption Branch ordered to stay away from public and media

Updated On: 27 March, 2009 10:48 AM IST | | Parwesh Lama

Delhi government asks investigating agency not to reveal names of corrupt officials it arrests; threatens disciplinary action if order is disobeyed

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Anti-Corruption Branch ordered to stay away from public and media

Delhi government asks investigating agency not to reveal names of corrupt officials it arrests; threatens disciplinary action if order is disobeyed

The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi Government has been gagged. The department, which has exposed many senior corrupt officials, has been ordered by the Delhi government to refrain from making public details of investigations conducted by it.

Illustration by: Satish Acharya

Decoded, the order means that tainted officials like Crime Branch inspector KG Tyagi, who was arrested in October last year for allegedly extorting money from a businessman held in a murder case, will not be exposed in public.

And if the ACB fails to comply, disciplinary action may be taken against its officers.

The circular (a copy of which is with the MiD DAY) was sent out by the additional secretary (Vigilance), Delhi Government. It instructs the ACB not to reveal to the media or the public names or designations of officials it arrests. The department has also been ordered not to hand over to the media audio or video records of its investigative stings.

"Frequent interaction with the media should be avoided," reads the order. It adds that if press conferences about cases have to be organised, ACB officials should reveal only the department of the accused official.

"The ACB has been censored. We arrest people after conducting stings and laying traps. If we do not reveal the name of the accused to the society, how will corruption stop? If people see a policeman or a senior government official indulging in corrupt practices on camera, they will fear the law," said an ACB official, wishing anonymity.