Anti-corruption ombudsman receives 12 complaints between April and June in 2021

As per the latest official data, anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal received 12 complaints of corruption between April and June this year. Amongst the 12, eight are against senior government officials. Lokpal is the apex body to investigate allegations of corruption against public functionaries.

In 2020-21, Lokpal received 110 complaints, including four against MPs, 49 against group A or group B central government officials, 44 against chairpersons, members and employees of different boards/corporations/autonomous bodies wholly or partially financed by the Centre, and against five in the "others" category. In 2019-20, 1,427 complaints were received. 613 were related to state government officials and four against Union ministers and MPs, 245 complaints were against central government officials, 200 against those in public sector undertakings, statutory bodies, judicial institutions and autonomous bodies at the central level, and 135 were against private persons and organisations.

In the ongoing fiscal, 12 complaints were received in the first three months of which eight were are against group A or B officials and four against "chairperson/ member/officer/employee in any body/board/corporation/ authority/company/ society/ trust/autonomous body" wholly or partially financed by the central government or controlled by it. While two cases were closed after preliminary examination, three are pending with the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). In one complaint, a status report is pending from the CBI. Further details of the case are unavailable.

"It has been over two years since the Lokpal started working. The Lokpal must make public details of prosecution in the corruption cases received by it," said anti-corruption activist Ajay Dubey. He added that the government must refill the two vacant posts in the anti-corruption ombudsman at the earliest. The Lokpal informed that it has written to the centre for directors of inquiry and prosecution.

On March 23, 2019, President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office to Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose as the chairperson of the Lokpal. Eight members of the Lokpal, including the four judicial and the four non-judicial, were administered the oath of office on March 27, 2019, by Justice Ghose. Currently, the Lokpal has a vacancy of two judicial members.