Maharashtra’s Anti-Corruption Bureau

The vision of Maharashtra’s Anti-Corruption Bureau is to build a strong anti-corruption culture that pervades government agencies and society, defends integrity and transparency, and work toward a corruption-free nation, through its function as Bribery Prevention Department. This bureau’s mission is to persistently battle, control and prevent corruption by enforcing anti-corruption legislation with the greatest level of professionalism, impartiality, and dedication to duty.

Through education and awareness initiatives, this Bribery Prevention Department works strategically to prevent corruption and create deterrence. The bureau combats corruption by taking disciplinary action against corrupt officials through rigorous malpractice inspection, investigations of complaints, criminal misbehaviour and disproportionate assets cases, and efficient prosecution of corrupt public workers.

History

• In 1946, Mumbai and Mofussil Anti-Corruption Branches were created. 
• Branches in Mumbai and Mofussil were centralised in 1953.
• Afterwards, the Anti-Corruption and Prohibition Intelligence Bureau was founded in 1957, with a separate headquarters on Mumbai’s Ballard Pier. Also, the office space was rented on a monthly basis.
• The headquarters was moved from Ballard Pier, Mumbai, to Madhu Industrial Estate, Worli, Mumbai, in 1992. Also, at this time, the Bureau’s name was changed to “Anti-Corruption Bureau.”
• Furthermore, in 2011, the Anti-Corruption Bureau moved from Madhu Industrial Estate to its own building on Sir Pochkhanwala Road in Worli, Mumbai, on June 1, 2011.

Structure of Maharashtra’s Anti-Corruption Bureau

The Bureau is headquartered in Mumbai and is overseen by the Director General, ACB, who was appointed by the government in accordance with Government Resolution, Home Department. The Director, who had previously held the position of Deputy Inspector-General of Police, was promoted to Head of the Department. Later, the position was elevated to that of Director General of Police. The Director General is independent of the state Director General of Police and reports directly to the Home Department’s administrative administration. The Director General is supported by a large number of personnel at Headquarters.

This Bureau is divided into eight units or ranges, with headquarters in Mumbai, Thane, Nasik, Pune, Amravati, Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Nanded.

While bribery has been illegal since the Indian Penal Code was adopted in 1860, the circumstances surrounding the Second World War and subsequent events forced the Indian government to give significant thought to the issue of corruption. This led to the enactment of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1947. Even before the Prevention of Corruption Act was enacted, the then-Government of Bombay authorised the formation of the Anti-Corruption Branch (which works as Bribery Prevention Department) in Greater Bombay in 1946 as a separate entity entrusted with investigating accusations of bribery and corruption. Over time, this evolved into the current Maharashtra State Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Functions of the Bureau

The principal responsibilities of this Bribery Prevention Department include gathering intelligence in order to discover and investigate crimes of bribery and corruption that fall under the ambit of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

To investigate charges of bribery, corruption, criminal misconduct, misappropriation of government funds, and other venal acts by public workers submitted by members of the public or received from government officials and Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas.

Powers Maharashtra’s Anti-Corruption Bureau

All officers serving with the ACB are still classified as “Police Officers,” with powers granted to them under numerous statutes.

According to the Maharashtra Government Order Home Department, whenever any officer of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the rank of Police Sub-Inspector (Now Police Inspector) or higher investigates any offence at any location in the State, he is deemed to be an officer-in-charge of the Police Station within the limits of which such location is situated. As a result of this order, any Bureau Police officer with the rank of Police Sub-Inspector (Now Police Inspector) or above can use the powers of an officer-in-charge of a Police Station while investigating any crime wherever in the State.

Officers of higher ranks than the officer in command of a police station may use the same powers within the local region to which they are assigned as they may inside the confines of their station. As a result, it is apparent that a senior officer, such as a police superintendent, can either examine the matter himself or request an inquiry to be conducted by any police officer under his command.

Jurisdiction

The Anti-Corruption Bureau is responsible for the whole state of Maharashtra, including Greater Bombay, and its officers have all of the authorities and privileges that police officers have. The Bureau is organised into eight Ranges for administrative convenience, and the staff assigned to each of these Ranges is responsible for the following areas:

Conclusion

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is a vital part of Maharashtra’s government. The mission of the Anti-Corruption Bureau is in line with the Maharashtra State Government’s aim of transparent and corruption-free administration via its role as Bribery Prevention Department. The government offers individuals with a variety of services. Citizens should contact the ACB if government officials seek a bribe for any government task. The ACB would always stand behind such citizens and prosecute the culprits. A society without corruption ushers in a new period of growth, wealth, and decent administration. Only with citizens’ active engagement and cooperation would this be achievable. As responsible citizens, we must assist ACB in freeing society from corruption’s grip and promoting growth. The ACB of Maharashtra is there to assist us at every turn.