The news report, “Fresh bribery complaint...”, stating that a social media post alleging corruption prompted the police to swiftly initiate an enquiry came as a surprise. I share this surprise from personal experience. I had approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) with a complaint about corruption in the handling of my illegal construction complaint to the Village Panchayat, which had remained pending for three years. I submitted all correspondence and a call recording in which the respondent admitted to paying a bribe to protect an illegal room. However, in the name of investigation, the ACB merely wrote to the panchayat seeking its response and closed the case after receiving a denial. Do officials maintain records of bribes? Is this how investigations are conducted? What about probing the three-year delay itself? Increasingly, law enforcement agencies appear to act on social media posts, while reportedly refusing to register FIRs when citizens approach them directly. Must people publicise their grievances and tag the Chief Minister to be heard? What purpose does the ACB serve if corruption complaints receive such treatment?
ALWYN FERNANDES, Benaulim
