New Delhi:
At least 18 policemen have come under the vigilance department's scanner every week this year for alleged involvement in corrupt practices.
Records of Delhi Police reveal that around 850 departmental enquiries have been initiated so far this year against at least as many police officials, based on complaints which were supported with "actionable evidence".
"Last year, the number of complaints -- mostly received through the anti-graft helpline over WhatsApp -- was higher than this year, but they lacked actionable evidences, leading to less than 600 departmental enquiries," said a senior police officer.
"This year, the number of complaints is less but instances of enquiries initiated have gone up, suggesting more accuracy among common people reporting corruption," the officer said.
Based on a complaint received recently, the station house officer (SHO) of southwest Delhi's Bindapur police station was shunted out from the district and put into security duty.
In April, three officials, including the SHO, of southeast Delhi's Ambedkar Nagar police station were sent to the district lines.
In August, three police personnel, including two women constables, posted at the Bangladesh Cell of West District were sent to district lines for conducting an illegal raid at Okhla's Jogai Bagh extension area.
People's complaints also led to 39 cases being registered by the vigilance department against as many as 79 police personnel since January 2014.
Of the total personnel booked, leading to either their indefinite suspension or dismissal in many cases, two were inspectors and as many as 12 were sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, the records revealed.
Seven police personnel were booked in one case after a news channel conducted a sting operation at several police stations and submitted its findings to the vigilance department, the officer said.
In October, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had called Delhi Police the "most corrupt", citing a survey.
However, Delhi Police commissioner B S Bassi termed the findings of the same survey to be "flattering" for the police.
Citing the survey, the city police chief claimed corruption with regard to transactions with the police had dropped drastically, both in terms of experience and perception.