Prevention of Corruption Act, 1900
What is Bribery?
If any government servant or officer demands any type of extra favour for the work that is under his or her course of duty this act comes under anti anti-corruption definition known as bribery. The person who has done this type of act is considered corrupt which is a punishable offence under the Prevention of corruption act 1988 Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,2018 and Sec 171 of the IPC
How to File a Complaint against Corruption and Bribery in India
Where to complain about bribery?
If any govt officer practises corruption at the state level then we can file a complaint against him at the anti-corruption bureau of that state. The aggrieved party can file a complaint in written form or online at the portal of the anti-corruption bureau by email calls or WhatsApp. If the govt officer is working at the central level and doing corrupt practices then the aggrieved party can complain to the central vigilance commission. In some cases, the aggrieved person can complain to RBI also.
Necessary to file a physical complaint?
There is no need to file a physical complaint, an aggrieved person can file a complaint through email, calls and WhatsApp and also upload the complaint on the portal of the anti-corruption bureau.
Necessary to reveal one’s identity?
For a complaint aggrieved person has to give his or her identity but if the request is not to reveal his identity then anti-corruption will keep the identity secret.
What is a trap/ sting operation?
The trap is a process that is done by the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) against the corrupt officer. In this process, after complaining to ACB the aggrieved party sent the corrupt officer with a digital camera, voice recorder and a person from ACB as assistance and with money and there is phenolphthalein powder prevented on note by this process ACB trapped the corrupt officer.
Giving a bribe is also a crime?
Yes, giving bribes is also a punishable offence under section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 if any person wants to give bribe to any govt officer he can also file a complaint against that person in ACB.
Case of disproportionate asset
If a person feels or observes that any gift officer has more assets than his salary and gives the proper information about that officer to ACB then, ACB raids his house and it is the case of the anti-corruption act.
Conclusion
In summary, the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1900, addresses bribery and corrupt practices among government officials. Bribery, defined as the demand for extra favors in the course of duty, is punishable under this act and subsequent amendments. Complaints regarding bribery can be lodged at the state’s anti-corruption bureau for state-level officers, the central vigilance commission for central-level officers, or even the RBI in certain cases. Filing a complaint is convenient, with options for online submissions through various channels, and anonymity can be maintained upon request.
The act also prohibits giving bribes, and individuals can file complaints against those attempting to bribe government officials. Additionally, the act empowers authorities to conduct trap operations against corrupt officers, and it addresses cases of disproportionate assets among public officials. Overall, the act serves as a vital tool in promoting accountability and deterring corruption within the government sector.
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