Reflections by Sandemo Ngullie. For Representational purposes only
No new cases under Prevention of Corruption Act
Moa Jamir
Dimapur | December 6
Dispelling popular perception, accountability and transparency seem to rule roost in Nagaland, with official data suggesting ‘zero’ corruption case in the State in 2022.
While a single case marred the State’s untainted image on corruption in 2021, it improved its reputation by being only five States or Union Territories in India with nil registration of cases by Anti-Corruption Bureau, Vigilance and Lokayukta under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 (PC Act).
The other States/UTs with zero case under the PC Act1988 & Related Sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) dealing with corrupt practice by public servant were Goa, Tripura, D&N Haveli andDaman & Diu,and Ladakh, highlighted the ‘Crime in India-2022,’ released this week by the National Crime Record Bureau under the Union Ministry oh Home Affairs.
Across India, a total of 4139 cases have been registered in 2022 by State Anti-Corruption Bureaux (ACBs) as compared to 3745 cases in 2021, showing an increase of 10.5%, the report said.
Out 4,139 cases, majority, i.e., 69.7% were Trap Cases (2,883 cases) followed by 13.2 % of Criminal Misconduct (547 Cases), it informed.
A total of 4993 persons were arrested, 852 persons were convicted and departmental action was taken against 445 persons, it added.
Meanwhile, under Special and Local Laws (SLL) crimes related with corruption, Nagaland Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, Goa and UTs of A&N Islands, D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Ladakh had zero cases in 2022.
In 2021, Nagaland has registered one case under SLL crimes
Historically ‘transparent’
Further analysis of the NCRB data informed from 2014-2022 revealed that during the last nine yes, a total of just 57 cases have been under the PA Act 1988 & Related Sections of IPC in Nagaland.
The highest was in 2018 when there were 16 cases, followed by 12 in 2017, 10 in 2016, and 4 in 2020. There was single case in 2019 and 2021.
Incidentally, under SLL crime related with corruption, mere one case has been registered in the last six years from 2017-2022.
However, Nagaland has outdone previous records without registering even a single case in 2022 either under IPC or SLL crimes, thus, cementing its reputation as a ‘corruption-free’ State.
Disposal of Cases
Giving an overall picture of the disposal of cases over the years, the report informed that a total of 24 Cases were Pending Investigation at end of the 2022, out of 25 carried forward from last year by Anti-Corruption Bureau, Vigilance and Lokayukta under PC Act1988 and Related Sections of IPC.
Final Reports were submitted for a case in 2022, there was no charge-sheet, the report said.
Likewise, in the court of Anti-Corruption, Vigilance and Lokayukta cases under PA Act 1988 and Related Sections of IPC (State/UT-wise), there were 7 trials pending in 2021.
Out of this, there was one acquittal.
The report further informed while 9 were arrested in Nagaland in offences under the PC Act 2022, 7 were acquitted and no charge-sheet was filed.
The NCRB compiles the report annually based on information obtained from States/Union Territories (UTs) Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) / Central Police Organisations (CPOs).
“Clarifications on data for Crime in India are pending from Nagaland. Hence, data from Nagaland State may be treated as provisional,” the report added.
