Whistle-blowers vulnerable to threats and murder four years after WPB Act

In the second of a three-part series, Business Standard examines issues plaguing India's struggle with graft

When the Whistle Blowers Protection (WBP) Act was passed in 2014, it was hailed as a significant step towards beefing up the country’s anti-corruption apparatus. Whistle-blowers were to have their identities protected, encouraging more people to come forward and expose wrongdoing in public life.
 

However, four years on, the law is yet to be implemented and whistle blowers continue to be harassed, intimidated and murdered.

Beaten and killed
 

According to the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, since 2005, there have been 315 attacks on whistle-blowers who have used the RTI law to expose scams and corruption. Estimates suggest that more than