6 months ago
1
The Forum for Good Governance (FGG) has written to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, raising concerns implicit what it describes arsenic an alarming hold successful the disposal of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) cases, contempt a dependable emergence successful registrations implicit the past 5 years.
The forum released a connection saying that the prolonged pendency is weakening deterrence, emboldening corrupt officials and creating the content that the strategy protects wrongdoers alternatively of the public.
According to information furnished by the ACB successful effect to an RTI appeal, the bureau registered 621 cases betwixt January 1, 2020, and July 10, 2025. These included 61 trap cases, 9 disproportionate assets cases and 14 different transgression misconduct cases successful 2020, totalling 84.
In 2021, 74 trap cases, 2 disproportionate assets cases and 7 different cases were booked, totalling 83. In 2022, the numbers roseate to 72, 18 and 17 respectively, totalling 107. The bureau registered 73 trap cases, six disproportionate assets cases and 8 different cases successful 2023, totalling 87.
In 2024, registrations spiked to 129 trap cases, 11 and 12 different cases, finishing astatine 152 for the year. In 2025, up to July 10, the tally stood astatine 86, 8 and 14 respectively, totalling 108.
The ACB informed the appellant that retired of the 621 cases registered during this period, last enquiry reports had been completed successful 519 cases and forwarded to the government. These files are present pending authorisation for prosecution. Without the government’s permission, complaint sheets cannot beryllium filed successful court.
The forum said the systemic delays are defeating the precise intent of anti-corruption action. It noted that portion the bureau is registering an mean of 30 cases a month, the follow-through is stalled astatine the Secretariat level, allowing accused officials to proceed successful work without consequence. By the clip prosecution begins, the forum said, officers often discontinue without facing proceedings oregon accountability.
It pointed retired that adjacent aft sanction, tribunal procedures instrumentality anyplace betwixt 3 and 5 years, stretching the full beingness rhythm of a corruption lawsuit to 8 oregon 10 years. In respective instances, cases person dragged connected for 15 years.
In its representation, the forum said the government’s inaction is deepening nationalist mistrust. It urged the Chief Minister to contented steadfast directions to streamline the disposal of ACB cases and guarantee timely prosecution truthful that the deterrent worth of traps and corruption investigations is not lost.
