Delhi Police's anti-corruption helpline gets 23,000 complaints in a month

Delhi Police's anti-corruption helplines have been buzzing continuously. Around 23,000 complaints have been received on two anti-corruption helpline numbers since they were launched over a month ago, and the police vigilance department has begun scrutinizing the complaints.

According to police sources, the vigilance department has received 23,000 complaints on its new anti-corruption helpline numbers -- 1064 and 9910641064, a WhatsApp helpline -- between Aug 6 and Sep 12.

"The cases that relate to corrupt policemen will be handled by the vigilance team while other complaints will be handed over to the concerned departments," the official sources told IANS.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Vigilance) Sindhu Pillai told IANS: "A total of nine policemen of the rank of constable to sub-inspector and a home guard have been booked in six cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act between Aug 6 and Sep 12."

The helplines, launched by the vigilance department Aug 6 to take action against corrupt policemen, on an average receive 600 complaints a day.

The WhatsApp helpline received 20,698 messages till Sep 6.

Only five percent of these complaints are related to corruption in Delhi Police while others are related to different government departments, the source said.

"About half of the total complaints received on 1064 and 9910641064 were related to alleged inaction by officials across government departments. We inform the authorities concerned if the complaints have merit," a vigilance department official, on condition of anonymity, told IANS.

Initially as many as 2,300 complaints were received each day, especially as many people were trying to see if the numbers were operational.

The landline number 1064 at present has four lines attended by at least 20 constables and head constables who work round the clock under the guidance of an inspector, while 9910641064 is handled under the guidance of senior vigilance officers.

The complainants, whose identity police will withhold, can forward the video and audio recording of the alleged incident via WhatsApp to the vigilance helpline 9910641064.

"The helpline numbers are launched under the guidance of Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi with an aim to make the force corruption free," Additional Commissioner of Police (Vigilance) G.C. Dwivedi, under whose watch the helpline numbers function, told IANS.

"Officers found guilty are booked under section 7 (public servant accepting gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) and section 13 (criminal misconduct by a public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and other sections under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)," he added.

Explaining the working of the 24x7 helplines, a police officer said: "After we receive a call on the helpline number and a clip with the evidence against an officer, we inform a senior about the complaint."

"We then call the complainant and get detailed information about the case while the clip is sent to the forensic science laboratory in Rohini to check its authenticity. If it's genuine, a complaint is registered and the guilty officer is arrested and suspended with immediate effect."

(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.k@ians.in)