Tamil Nadu: Report proof of bribery by officials, earn rewards up to ₹1 lakh Haryana: Whistleblower reports bribe demand, faces threats instead of protection
Gustakhi Maaf Haryana- Pawan Kumar Bansal.
The contrast between Haryana and Tamil Nadu in tackling corruption by government officials is striking.
Haryana repeatedly claims “zero tolerance” towards corruption, yet in practice the government is reluctant even to grant sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act for initiating investigations against senior bureaucrats. According to anti-corruption activists, sanction for probing several IAS officers has remained pending despite what they describe as substantial evidence of corruption.
Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, has adopted a visibly proactive approach. The state vigilance authorities publicly encourage citizens to report bribery and have announced rewards of up to Rs 1 lakh for video evidence of government employees demanding bribes, while assuring complete confidentiality of the complainant’s identity.
The situation in Haryana presents a very different picture.
Three inspectors posted in the office of the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Gurugram, were allegedly caught on camera demanding a bribe of Rs 7.5 lakh for transfer of flat shares in Karmyogi Cooperative Group Housing Society, Gurugram. The matter was raised in the Haryana Assembly by senior MLA Dr. Raghubir Singh Kadian. In response, Speaker Harvinder Kalyan informed the House that the government had acted swiftly by suspending the officials concerned.
Whistleblower Vikas Chopda subsequently approached the Gurugram unit of the Anti-Corruption Bureau and submitted video evidence of the alleged demand for bribe. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was reportedly registered, voice samples of the accused officials were taken, and statements of the complainant were recorded before a magistrate.
However, what followed has raised serious questions about the state government’s actual intent and commitment. The suspended inspectors were allegedly reinstated and posted back in the same office. The whistleblower now claims he is facing intimidation and threats.
The matter has reportedly been brought to the notice of the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Haryana.
The contrast becomes even sharper when viewed alongside developments in neighbouring Punjab, where the AAP government has allowed action against its own legislators in corruption cases. More recently, the Enforcement Directorate also arrested a Punjab minister in a corruption-related matter.
Tailpiece: What has surfaced so far may only be the tip of the iceberg.Narrative of zero tolerance on corruption was coined by ex CM Manohar Lal and is proudly claimed by his successor Nayab Saini