Over 20 traffic policemen caught in Vigilance checks against graft this yr

Department conducted over 350 raids

Only one case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been filed against over 350 surveillance checks conducted by the Vigilance Branch of Delhi Police this year.

A constable posted with the traffic unit has been named in the case. Departmental action has been taken against 23 others cops – 20 from the Traffic Police and three from the police control room.

According to police, the concept of conducting surveillance checks was introduced this year as an innovative measure to combat corruption. “The teams, equipped with video surveillance gadgets, keep an eye on any act of corruption by Delhi Police personnel.

Surprise checks are conducted with particular focus on the visible wings of Delhi Police such as traffic, PCR vans and beat officers,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Vigilance) R K Jha.

On detecting any public dealing of suspicious nature, the vigilance branch officers confront the accused with evidence. In such checks last week, a head constable and two constables were found involved in corrupt practices.

In the first incident, a team had checked traffic staff at Minto Road on December 7. “It was found that head constable Naresh Kumar and constable Kuldeep had kept documents of commercial vehicles and had asked the drivers to return after dropping passengers at the New Delhi railway station,” Jha added.

When the drivers returned to collect their documents, Naresh and Kuldeep fined Rs 100 without issuing challan.

In the second incident, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Vigilance) checked traffic staff at Mandi House and found constable Bhup Singh receiving Rs 300 without issuing any
receipt. “We have recommended departmental action against all the three policemen,”
Jha said.

Surprise inspections are also conducted in nearly 50 police stations every month. “Since police stations form the cutting edge of public handling and service delivery, the vigilance unit conducts surprise checks to check whether or not police personnel are delivering services to the satisfaction of the public they interface with,” another police officer said.

Every month a particular theme of checking is chosen by the Special Commissioner of Police (Vigilance), and assistant commissioners of police and inspectors of the vigilance unit check the efficiency of service delivery.

Some of the themes chosen earlier include response to complainants in FIRs, behaviour with complainants visiting police stations, and handling of investigation in kidnapping and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) cases.

“Decoy complainants were also sent to police stations to check the efficiency of response and the extent of public satisfaction,” the officer said.