Corruption In India

Kishor vows to target 100 most corrupt politicians, bureaucrats if elected

Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Wednesday asserted that if voted to power in Bihar, his party will crack down on "100 most corrupt politicians and bureaucrats", and have their ill-gotten wealth confiscated within the first month. In an exclusive interview with PTI, Kishor also alleged that corruption was rampant under the NDA government, even though the BJP-led coalition did not have as bad a reputation as the RJD headed by Lalu Prasad. "We have promised to rid Bihar of land mafia, sand mining mafia, and all other types of mafia. To this end, we have made six promises, including the scrapping of the bogus (farzi) prohibition policy", said Kishor. Within a month of forming the government, a law will be made to identify 100 most corrupt politicians and bureaucrats of the state, who, "I am sure, must be conducting pujas to ensure that we do not come to power". "These corrupt politicians and bureaucrats will be prosecuted and their ill-gotten wealth will be confiscated and

ED questions cricketer Yuvraj Singh for over 7 hours in betting app case

Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh on Tuesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in a money laundering case linked to an online betting app named 1xBet, officials said. Singh (43), wearing a white T-shirt and pant, reached the agency's office in central Delhi around 12 noon accompanied by his legal team. The investigating officer of the case questioned the all-rounder and left-hand batter and recorded his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the officials said. An influencer named Anveshi Jain also appeared before the ED for questioning in the same case. The federal probe agency has questioned former cricketers Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan and Robin Uthappa apart from former TMC MP and actor Mimi Chakraborty and Bengali actor Ankush Hazra over the last few weeks as part of this investigation. Actor Sonu Sood has been summoned for Wednesday by the ED in the same case. The investigation into the operations of the 1xBet betti

States' salary, pension, interest expenses rise 2.5 times since FY14: CAG

The committed expenditure on salaries, pensions, and interest payments increased by 2.49 times to Rs 15,63,649 crore in fiscal 2022-23 across all states from Rs 6,26,849 crore in 2013-14, said a CAG report on state finances. A large share of the revenue expenditure is either committed or tied up. Salaries, pensions, and interest payments on public debt and liabilities are treated as 'committed expenditure'. During the 10-year period from 2013-14 to 2022-23, revenue expenditure by the states constituted 80-87 per cent of the total expenditure and as percentage of combined GSDP, it was about 13-15 per cent. In FY 2022-23, revenue expenditure was 84.73 per cent of total expenditure and 13.85 per cent of combined GSDP, said the publication on State Finances 2022-23, the first of its kind by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. In FY 2022-23, out of the total revenue expenditure of Rs 35,95,736 crore, the committed expenditure was Rs 15,63,649 crore; Rs 3,09,625 crore on subsid

More than 7,000 graft cases probed by CBI pending trial in courts: CVC

As many as 7,072 corruption cases probed by the CBI were pending trial in different courts, with 379 of them for over 20 years, according to the latest annual report of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). Of the total cases, 1,506 were pending for less than three years, 791 for more than three years and up to five years, and 2,115 for more than five years and up to 10 years, as on December 31, 2024, it said. A total of 2,281 such corruption cases were pending trial for more than 10 years and up to 20 years, and 379 for more than 20 years, said the report made public recently by the anti-corruption watchdog. "It was noted that 7,072 cases were pending for trials as on 31.12.2024. It is a matter of concern that 2,660 cases were pending for more than 10 years at the end of 2024," it said. According to the report, as many as 13,100 appeals/revisions, filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and by the accused, were pending in different high courts and the Supreme Court.

Cash row: Will constitute bench to hear Justice Varma's plea, says SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would constitute a bench to hear Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma's plea seeking to invalidate a report by an in-house inquiry panel, which found him guilty of misconduct in the cash discovery row. Justice Varma has also sought quashing of the May 8 recommendation by then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna urging Parliament to initiate impeachment against him. The matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and Joymalya Bagchi. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who mentioned the matter for Justice Varma, said the plea was in respect of recommendation made by the then CJI for removal of Justice Varma. "We have raised some constitutional issues. I request your lordships to list it as early as possible," he said. The CJI said, "I will have to constitute a bench". He said it might not be proper for him to take up the matter as he was also a part of the ...

Best of BS Opinion: PLIs can't succeed without deeper structural reforms

Today's pieces span multiple issues, from overseas acquisitions by PSUs, PLI schemes' success, the proposed India-US BTA, and the debilitating effect of quality issues across sectors

Odisha Vigilance launches multiple raids on properties of senior officer

The Odisha Vigilance on Monday launched simultaneous raids on the properties and office of a joint director-rank officer at eight locations in three districts in connection with its probe into his alleged disproportionate assets. The Vigilance Department launched the search operations on the properties of the Soil Conservation and Watershed Development joint director, following allegations that he amassed wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. The official was a former project director (PD) of the Watershed Department in Rayagada. "Simultaneous searches are being conducted by Odisha Vigilance officials led by 10 deputy superintendents of police, eight inspectors, 10 ASIs, and other supporting staffers on the strength of search warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhawanipatna," an officer said. The raids are being carried out at three places in Bhubaneswar, two locations in Kalahandi district and three places in Nabarangpur, the Vigilance officer ...

Actor Dino Morea appears before ED over Mithi river desilting case

Bollywood actor Dino Morea on Thursday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here in connection with a money laundering probe linked to an alleged Rs 65 crore Mithi river desilting scam, officials said. Morea, who had been summoned by the ED for questioning, reached the federal agency's office at Ballard Estate in south Mumbai at around 10.30 am, an official said. The ED on June 6 conducted searches at more than 15 locations in Mumbai, and Kochi in Kerala, including the premises of Dino Morea in Bandra (West) area here, those linked to his brother Santino, some Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, and contractors among others, official sources earlier said. The searches were conducted in Kochi as one of the companies that provided desilting equipment to the BMC -- Matprop Technical Services Pvt Ltd -- is based in this city, they said. The investigation is being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources had said. The ED cas

Odisha govt suspends IAS officer Dhiman Chakma accused of taking bribe

The Odisha government on Tuesday placed IAS officer Dhiman Chakma under suspension, a day after he was sent to jail for allegedly taking bribe from a businessman, officials said. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered suspension of Shri Dhiman Chakma, Sub Collector, Dharamgarh with immediate effect, an official release said. Chakma, a 2021-batch IAS officer, was on Sunday caught by sleuths of the vigilance department while allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from the businessman at Dharmagarah in Kalahandi district. It is further ordered that during the period of suspension, the headquarters of Shri Chakma is fixed at the GA&PG Department, Government of Odisha, Bhubaneswar, and he shall not leave the said headquarters without prior permission, a notification issued by the General Administration Department said. He was arrested on Monday, and produced before a court, which rejected his bail petition. Chakma was sent to jail at Dharmagarh, but later shifted to a hospital .

Sacked teachers head from West Bengal to Delhi to attend SC hearing

Around 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff in West Bengal lost their jobs because of alleged corruption in various examinations conducted by the state's School Service Commission

20 statements recorded before Sisodia, Jain grilling in classroom scam

Before summoning former Delhi ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain for questioning, ACB officials have conducted an extensive and technically detailed investigation

NAN corruption case: SC grants pre-arrest bail to former Chhattisgarh AG

The Supreme Court on Friday granted pre-arrest bail to former Chhattisgarh advocate general Satish Chandra Verma in relation to the Nagrik Apurti Nigam scam case. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked Verma to cooperate in the investigation. During the hearing, senior advocate Vivek Tankha and advocate Sumeer Sodhi, appearing for Verma, submitted that the Chhattisgarh High Court has wrongly concluded that there was a need for custodial interrogation. They submitted that no offence whatsoever was made out on the basis of allegations. Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the state government, opposed the anticipatory bail saying there was enough material against the law officer. The Chhattisgarh government had earlier told the apex court that it would not take any coercive steps against Verma in relation to the Nagrik Apurti Nigam (NAN) scam case and issued notice to the state government. The allegations against Verma in the FIR are that he helped NAN

Goa : AAP chief Palekar claims harassment by police in land grabbing case

Goa Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president Amit Palekar was on Friday questioned for a third time by police in connection with a video released by a man accused in multiple land grab cases who escaped from crime branch custody last year, but was arrested later. Palekar, carrying a toothbrush and toothpaste, appeared before the Old Goa police in the morning and was questioned for around an hour. AAP MLA Cruz Silva was present with his party colleague at the police station in a show of solidarity. Talking to reporters after recording his statement, the Goa AAP president alleged political vendetta and said police were summoning him repeatedly, while ignoring others, including a senior police officer and a BJP MLA who were named by the land grab accused, Siddiqui Suleman Khan (55), in the video. Khan released two videos in December last year and in one of them, he claimed the police helped him escape from custody. In the second video, he claimed he recorded the first clip at Palekar's behest.

173 public servants investigated for graft yet to be suspended: ACB report

The ACB report also highlighted that 22 public servants convicted in corruption cases are still waiting for dismissal

India ranks 96 out of 180 countries in Corruption Perceptions Index 2024

India ranked 96 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2024 as its overall score dropped a point to 38, according to a Transparency International report released on Tuesday. The index, which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people, uses a scale of zero to 100, where "zero" is highly corrupt and "100" is very clean. In 2024, India's overall score was 38 while it was 39 in 2023 and 40 in 2022. India's rank in 2023 was 93. Among India's neighbours, Pakistan (135) and Sri Lanka (121) grappled with their respective low rankings, while Bangladesh's ranking stood further down at 149. China ranked 76. Denmark topped the list of being the least-corrupt nation, followed by Finland and Singapore. The 2024 CPI showed that corruption is a dangerous problem in every part of the world, but a change for the better is happening in many countries. Research has also revealed that .

RG Kar case: HC says corruption has serious impact on public confidence

Hearing an appeal by R G Kar Medical College's former principal Sandip Ghosh seeking postponement of framing of charges in a financial irregularities case, the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday observed that corruption in high places has serious impact on public confidence in the affairs of the state. The division bench presided by Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that the special court, before which the trial in the case is to be heard, may fix a date prior to the next hearing of the matter at the high court. Ghosh and four others were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a case of alleged financial irregularities at the medical establishment during his tenure as the principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. Holding that the allegations are very serious, the division bench, also comprising Justice Gaurang Kanth, said that it was informed that the respondent accused persons are in judicial remand at present. "Corruption in high places has serious impact on pub

ACB to take legal action against Kejriwal, AAP leaders on poaching claims

ACB had also issued a notice to AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, requesting his presence for an investigation into the allegations of bribes being offered to party MLAs

ACB registers DA case against Telangana official, finds Rs 4 cr assets

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Telangana registered a Disproportionate Assets (DA) case against the Deputy Transport Commissioner, Warangal district, and found assets worth over Rs 4 crore allegedly linked to him and his family members. The case was registered against the official after he allegedly acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income by indulging in corrupt practices and dubious means during his service, an ACB release said here. As this is an offence punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, preliminary searches were conducted on Friday at his house and various places belonging to him and his relatives. During the searches, property documents related to houses, open plots and agricultural lands were found in the official's name and in the names of his family members. Furthermore, bank balance amount, household articles, vehicles (four wheelers-3, two-wheeler-1), gold and silver ornaments and 23 foreign liquor bottles were found. The total

SC to hear Union minister Kumaraswamy's plea in graft case on Feb 25

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would hear on February 25, the plea of former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy seeking quashing of the proceedings in a corruption case. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manohan said it would decide the limited question of law over cognisance on which it issued notice in January, 2021. On January 18, 2021, the top court issued notice to the complainant one M S Mahadeva Swamy and the Karnataka government. Since then the matter was listed several times and no substantial hearing took place on Kumaraswamy's plea against the October 9, 2020 high court order refusing to quash the proceedings against him. The case relates to a private complaint filed by Swamy before the special judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act, in Bengaluru seeking prosecution of Kumaraswamy and others. The complaint alleged that de-notification of two plots of land in Halagevaderahalli Village, Uttarahalli Hobii, Begaluru South Taluk, during his tenure as ch

ED gets MHA sanction to prosecute Arvind Kejriwal in excise policy case

The Union Home Ministry has granted sanction to the Enforcement Directorate to prosecute former Delhi chief minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy linked money laundering case, officials said. The federal agency has filed a chargesheet against the 56-year-old politician before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court here last year after arresting him in March. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recently granted the required sanction to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for prosecuting Kejriwal under the anti-money laundering law in the Delhi excise policy case, officials said. The development comes ahead of the Delhi Assembly on February 5. Kejriwal has been made made an accused in his personal capacity as well as in the capacity of being the national convenor of his political party AAP. The former chief minister was called the "kingpin and key conspirator" of the Delhi excise "scam" by the ED. It was alleged that he acted in