One-third of Delhi households paid bribe last year; police asks people to provide evidence against corrupt cops

New Delhi: Amid AAP's allegation of being the most corrupt force, Delhi Police Tuesday announced to give cash reward of Rs 25,000 to those who will provide "actionable" audio or video evidences against any personnel involved in corrupt practices.

"We are starting a new scheme under which anyone who gives actionable audio/video evidence against any police personnel involved in corrupt practices will be given a reward of Rs 25,000," Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said.

"Persons providing actionable evidences against any other civilian involved in corruption will also be eligible for a reward of Rs 10,000," he added, as per PTI.

The scheme was announced after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attacked Delhi Police on the basis of the findings of a new survey on corruption.

A survey conducted by CMS Transparency on corruption has revealed that a third of households in Delhi paid a bribe in the last 12 months.

They also said that corruption in the distribution of LPG had increased the most,.

On the police they said that it was the agency most likely to require a bribe.

Police fared the worst, followed by the department of permit.

Conducted over July and August, the 15 specific public services that respondents were asked about were split in administrative terms between municipal, State and Central governments. 

CMS estimated that Delhi alone paid Rs 239 crore in bribes last year with average household having paid a bribe of Rs 2,500 in 2015.

Interestingly, only six of the 1,501 households sent an audio or video clip, something which has been popularised by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

And only 1.3 per cent called the anti-corruption helpline.

Among the different types of public services, the largest perception of increase in corruption was for LPG.

It was followed by electricity and water supply.

The distribution of LPG comes under the Central government. Electricity and water falls under the state government.

1,501 Delhi households were interviewed.

Meanwhile, Bassi, however, claimed that he had no knowledge about the parameters of the survey but refrained from challenging its validity.

"It has posed further challenge for us to eradicate corruption from Delhi Police and till date we have started several initiatives to fight the menace," Bassi said, citing facilities of reporting lost documents through internet and "truthful registration" of crimes.

These are the two areas where a lot of corruption complaints were received, Bassi added.

In April 2014, Delhi Police had launched the 1064 helpline for people to report against corrupt police officials. Four months later, the helpline was made available through WhatsApp (9910641064) for sending audio/video clips as evidences.

(With PTI inputs)