Chandigarh, September 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
In a significant step to strengthen its campaign against corruption, the Haryana State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has proposed that government officials and employees caught red-handed accepting bribes should not be posted again in the same district.
ACB chief Dr Arshinder Singh Chawla said letters have been sent to all concerned government departments in this regard following deliberations by the bureau’s High Power Committee. The decision is expected to be implemented soon.
Chawla said there had been instances where officials or employees facing corruption-related action were subsequently posted again in the same district after some time. According to him, such postings could undermine the objective of anti-corruption action and adversely affect public confidence in the system.
138 Successful Trap Operations in 2026
Chawla said the ACB has carried out 138 successful trap operations so far in 2026, in which government officials and employees were allegedly caught accepting bribes.
He said the figures also indicate that citizens are increasingly coming forward to report corruption and that confidence in the ACB’s action mechanism is strengthening. Excluding government holidays, the average works out to nearly one government official or employee being caught accepting a bribe every second day, he said.
23 Officials and Employees Convicted
The ACB chief said 23 officials and employees have been sentenced by various courts in 21 cases since January 1, 2026.
He stressed that the bureau’s work does not end with an arrest and that equal emphasis is being placed on effectively pursuing cases through the legal process and ensuring that those found guilty are sentenced by courts.
Chawla said court convictions send a clear message that action in corruption cases continues beyond arrests, with effective legal follow-up being pursued until the conclusion of proceedings.
List of 190 Officials Prepared
The ACB has also prepared a list of 190 officials and employees against whom repeated complaints or inputs related to corruption have been received, Chawla said.
The bureau is analysing the information available on these officials and taking necessary steps to catch those allegedly accepting bribes red-handed.
He said the ACB’s objective is not limited to responding to individual complaints, but also includes analysing available information to identify potential sources of corruption and taking targeted action.
Corruption Hotspots Under Analysis
The bureau is continuously analysing complaints received from different government departments to identify offices, departments and areas where corruption-related complaints are more frequent.
Haryana has seven ACB police stations, where information and complaints are being examined to identify problems faced by citizens in government offices. Based on this analysis, the bureau is coordinating with concerned departments not only for enforcement action but also for measures aimed at improving systems.
Focus on Protecting Complainants
Chawla said winning and maintaining public confidence is among the ACB’s key priorities. He said citizens are more likely to report corruption when they are confident that their complaints will be acted upon fairly and effectively and that approaching the bureau will not adversely affect their legitimate work.
He said every complaint received by the ACB is taken seriously, with follow-up continuing even after action is initiated to ensure that a complainant’s legitimate work does not remain unnecessarily pending or cause them further inconvenience.
Revolving Fund to Ease Financial Burden
The ACB chief said the government has created a revolving fund to facilitate reimbursement of money provided or used by complainants during trap operations.
A notification has been issued to simplify the procedure. Under the prescribed process, the complainant is required to submit an affidavit before the court undertaking to return the amount to the government account after the final decision in the case.
According to Chawla, the arrangement is intended to reduce the financial burden on complainants and enable them to report corruption without additional financial concerns.
Confidentiality of Complainants’ Identity
The ACB is also giving special priority to protecting the identity of complainants. Chawla said individuals who do not wish to disclose their identity can have their identity kept confidential while still being considered for recognition and a cash reward.
He said citizens coming forward to report corruption is important and encouraging such complainants could motivate others to speak up against corrupt practices.
Mobile App Being Tested for Complaints
The ACB is also conducting trials of a mobile application aimed at making the complaint process easier and more accessible.
Chawla said people sometimes do not remember the ACB helpline number. The proposed application will allow citizens to connect directly with the helpline through a single touch.
The app is also expected to include OTP-based facilities and other security features to protect the identity of complainants. The aim is to enable people to send information to the ACB easily even when they are outside their home district and face a corruption-related problem elsewhere.
Anti-Corruption Action to Continue
Chawla said the fight against corruption is a continuous process and requires simultaneous focus on enforcement, complainant protection, case follow-up, securing convictions, identifying corruption hotspots and simplifying complaint mechanisms through technology.
He said the ACB’s action against corruption would continue with full resolve and that officials and employees found involved in corrupt practices would face strict action according to law.
He also appealed to citizens to report to the ACB without fear if any government official or employee demands a bribe.
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