Bribe givers to be punished under new anti-graft bill

An anti-corruption bill that seeks to punish bribe givers for the first time with imprisonment of up to a maximum of seven years was passed on Thursday by the Rajya Sabha.

The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, that amends certain provisions of a 30-year-old anti-corruption law, was passed by the Upper House unanimously with voice vote. "It is a historic anti-corruption legislation to check graft in the country," Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said.

He said the bill has many provisions to ensure speedy trial of corruption cases besides providing protection to bureaucrats, even after their retirement, from malicious complaints.

"So overall, on the one hand the law against corruption has been made wide-based, on the other hand, the protection and safeguards of the functionaries have been made more effective," Singh said in the House. The Bill will now go to Lok Sabha.

For the bribe takers, the bill proposes to increase the punishment to a minimum of three years of imprisonment, which may extend to seven years, besides fine.

The bribe givers shall be punished up to seven years of imprisonment or with fine or both, according to the bill. Bribe givers are not covered in any of the domestic legislations to check corruption.

Instances of corruption and provisions to punish the guilty are provided in the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

However, to protect persons who give bribe under coercion, the bill has provided that "the person so compelled" would have to report the matter to the law enforcement authority or investigative agency within seven days.

With some members demanding that seven days time limit was too less, Singh assured the House that the government will consider extending this period.