Illegal assets? ACB is watching

Illegal assets? ACB is watching

Corruption due to bad system, not bad people: AK Khan

Hyderabad is the fifth most corrupt city in India according to the findings of anticorruption website (www.ipaidabribe.com), set up by a Bengaluru-based NGO. December 9 was observed as International Anti-Corruption Day. Hyderabad Hans spoke to AK Khan, IPS, Director General, Anti Corruption Bureau, who took up the charge recently. A man with a vision and commitment, he promises to bring down corruption in Andhra Pradesh. He believes, “Right people on the right bus can bring about a change”

Corruption is Omnipresent, Why? Can we fix it?

Corruption is rampant in society and human beings are full of temptations. Sadly, in every aspect of life, cheating and manipulating the thinking process of 'exploited individuals', is the mantra to acquire power, wealth and control over the gullible. Corruption is not primarily a problem of bad people but of bad systems. And these systems can be fixed. A critical element in combating corruption is to address the underlying incentives.

What are the reasons which draw an individual to corruption?

Corruption is a person’s weakness. Any person who is vulnerable is going to get exploited, particularly around money or possessions. Money is indispensable in the world for certain standard of quality of life and security. It is true that individuals want money for pleasure, power and fame. How much money is required for individuals to achieve this aim? That is the question for individuals to judge and decide. It is greed that overwhelms a person to be corrupt.

What are the conditions /weaknesses that facilitate corruption?

Corruption can grow in a variety of political and economic environments, though it particularly thrives where accountable governance structures and processes are weak. Corruption is facilitated, if there are a set of imperatives and incentives, which encourage someone to engage in corrupt transactions. Availability of multiple opportunities for personal enrichment increases the temptation to take bribe, access to and control over the means of corruption and limited risk of punishment, as cases can’t be proved and conviction rate is ridiculously low.

What are your plans to control corruption and the immediate measures?

The department has mooted the idea of a databank. We are collecting data from all the departments for a list of corrupt people. We are going to keep a check on them. We are extending training programmes to our people and every department will have trained staff who can combat corruption within. We have mooted the idea of coordination of different departments like Income tax, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, enforcement and other financial institutions. There will be more concentration on disproportionate asset cases rather than on trap cases.