ACB to Act if Government Officials Accept Gifts During Diwali and New Year

It has become imperative for officers and employees working in government offices to exercise caution during the Diwali and New Year festivals. According to a report by TV9 Gujarati, accepting sweets, gifts, and other valuable items given to government officials under the pretext of festive celebrations could now prove costly. With the objective of eradicating bribery and corruption, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is maintaining a strict and discreet vigil over government offices throughout the state.

Generally, during the Diwali and New Year period, people visit government offices with gifts to convey their greetings. However, the ACB has noted that some employees misuse this tradition to obtain bribes or other inducements in the name of gifts. Despite continuous strict action being taken by the ACB against government employees taking bribes for some time, some employees have not ceased the activity of accepting bribes. Especially before the Diwali festival, the movement of people in offices increases, which creates a possibility of illegal transactions taking place. Considering this serious situation, the ACB has become extremely alert.

According to the TV9 Gujarati report, to make this process more effective, separate special teams of the ACB have been formed district-wise across the state. These teams are conducting discreet monitoring in government offices. If any government employee is found accepting bribes, valuable items, or any other type of inducement under the guise of gifts, legal action will be initiated against them immediately. Currently, discussions have also arisen that some employees are receiving not only money but also highly expensive items, valuable gifts, and attractive inducements such as tour packages, which is a new form of corruption.

The ACB has clarified that if any such complaint or application is received, a thorough investigation will be conducted after collecting evidence. Citizens have also been encouraged to participate in this campaign. If any citizen learns that a government employee is illegally accepting gifts or bribes, they can contact the ACB's toll-free number 1064 to lodge a complaint. Additionally, information can be provided by visiting the nearest ACB office.

This step by the ACB is considered extremely important to bring transparency to government offices and prevent corruption. These teams will remain continuously active to ensure that corruption cases do not increase amidst the festive revelry. Officers and employees have been warned that any item taken in the name of a gift may be treated as a bribe by the ACB, which could put both their job and reputation at risk.

The primary objective of this entire arrangement is to ensure that honesty is maintained within the government machinery and that ordinary citizens do not have to give any kind of gift or bribe to officials for their work. This discreet vigil by the ACB has spread panic among government employees, as there is now a full possibility of any kind of illegal transaction being caught. These strict instructions issued by the state government and the ACB are part of the efforts to maintain discipline during the Diwali and New Year celebrations.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has expanded its reach in all districts of the state and has finalised the planning to monitor the functioning of every office. Especially in those departments where there is more public interaction and higher possibilities of bribery, stricter surveillance will be maintained. ACB teams have been given special training to identify indirect inducements in the form of gifts, so that they can conduct discreet investigations and collect evidence.

Thus, this year, government employees will have to be extremely cautious during the Diwali and New Year celebrations. Even a small mistake of accepting a gift could land them in legal trouble. It is hoped that through this campaign of the ACB, a major step will be taken towards corruption-free administration and a check will be placed on the practice of giving gifts in government offices.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau is a special investigative agency against corruption, which operates to investigate bribes and other illegal activities undertaken by government employees. The main objective of this institution has been to bring transparency to the administrative system and take strict legal action against officials involved in corruption.